Two Ontario men charged in $126K tuition fraud targeting international students

The Canada Border Services Agency has charged two Ontario men with fraud after an alleged scheme defrauded international students of $126,000 in fake tuition payments.

Ontario men charged over alleged $126K international student tuition scam

Google News CA — Crime (EN) reports that the Canada Border Services Agency has laid multiple criminal charges against two Ontario men following an investigation into an alleged scheme that authorities say defrauded international students of an estimated $126,000.

The CBSA's Intelligence and Enforcement Division opened the investigation in February 2025 after receiving a tip from Lambton College in Sarnia, Ont. Authorities interviewed alleged victims and conducted an extensive probe into claims that international students had been misled about post-secondary enrollment and tuition payments.

According to the CBSA, the two men collected money from international students by falsely promising the funds would be applied toward tuition fees. Investigators allege the students were provided with fraudulent enrollment documents but were never actually registered in any program.

CBSA officers executed two search warrants at the homes and businesses of the accused, seizing electronic devices. Additional warrants were later obtained to examine digital forensic data recovered from those devices.

Following the investigation, Hardik Dave of Cambridge, Ont., and Jainishkumar Patel, 35, of London, Ont., were each charged on June 2 with four counts of fraud over $5,000 under the Criminal Code, four counts of uttering forged documents under the Criminal Code, and four counts of counselling misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Dave is scheduled to appear in London court on July 10. Patel is believed to have fled the country and is currently wanted on an arrest warrant.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)