A Vancouver woman is fighting to recover $37,000 in fraudulent charges stemming from a tuition scam targeting international students and exploiting stolen credit card information, a CBC News investigation has revealed. Mira Burgess discovered the unauthorized transactions on her accounts, all appearing as payments to University Canada West (UCW), a private institution in Vancouver.
Burgess, who had no direct connection to UCW or any student enrolled there, found that 25 separate fraudulent charges had been made to her debit and credit cards over a five-month period. Despite repeated attempts to resolve the issue, neither UCW, TD Bank, nor local police were initially able to offer assistance, leaving Burgess financially responsible for the disputed amount.
The scam operates by fraudsters promising discounted tuition fees in exchange for upfront payment. They then use stolen credit and debit cards to “pay” the school, pocketing the student’s money while the fraudulent transaction is processed. When the fraudulent payment is flagged, the student is left believing their tuition is covered, while the financial institution and the victim are left to grapple with the fallout.
The situation highlights the difficulties faced by fraud victims in recovering lost funds. According to Toronto-based consumer protection lawyer Anique Dublin, individuals in Burgess’s position often have limited options. “It’s just unfortunate that consumers are put in a position where their only recourse is to resort to investing in legal advice,” Dublin stated. “It feels like everybody was failing this poor woman.”
The scam is reportedly surfacing in cities across Canada, prompting concerns about its potential scale, and impact. Air Transat is also increasing prices for flights to Europe, citing rising jet fuel costs triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Air Canada is similarly adjusting its pricing to reflect these increased costs. Several international airlines have begun adding fuel surcharges to account for the spike in oil prices following recent attacks in the region.
In Manitoba, the provincial government is requesting that Sobeys Capital Incorporated reconsider property restrictions that limit competition from other grocery stores. Public Service Delivery Minister Mintu Sandhu has written to Sobeys CEO Pierre St-Laurent, offering a meeting to discuss removing these controls, or the matter will be referred to the municipal board to determine if they are contrary to the public interest.
The Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission (CRTC) is set to eliminate fees associated with cancelling or switching cellphone and internet plans, aiming to make it easier for consumers to change providers. Live Nation and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a settlement in an antitrust trial targeting the company’s alleged monopoly over parts of the entertainment industry.
