Protect yourself from fraud

It has come to the Parole Board of Canada (PBC)'s attention that certain false and misleading information is circulating on the Internet about the record suspension application process.

It has also come to our attention that some companies are using symbols and visuals on their websites and marketing materials similar to the Government of Canada's and/or making misleading claims and guarantees, both of which are causing confusion for applicants.

Official Parole Board of Canada signature block has the Canadian flag at left with the english title of the organization "Parole Board of Canada" and the french title "Commission des libérations conditionnelles du Canada" beside the flag. English first publications will have the Flag at left, the English title in the middle and the French at right - the title positions will be reversed on French first publications.

The Canada wordmark is the word "Canada" with a Canadian flag icon above the last "a" and attached to the ascender of the letter "d" to represent a flag at the top of a flagpole. This symbol is only to be used on official Government of Canada publications.

misused maple leaf icon and the words 'Parole Board of Canada'

Examples of fraudulent websites:

The Parole Board of Canada does not endorse any third-party companies that prepare record suspension applications on behalf of an applicant.

Any companies or websites that suggest otherwise are misleading and/or fraudulent.

Before using the services of any company, the PBC recommends that you check them out with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB):
- Better Business Bureau of Canada
- Find a BBB in your area
Using a third-party company to prepare your record suspension application for you Will not:
- guarantee you a record suspension,
- accelerate the review of your application by the PBC, or
- convey a special status on your application.
Claims that suggest this are false and misleading.

The PBC treats all applications the same.
You do not need a third-party company or lawyer to apply for a record suspension. You can apply directly to the Parole Board of Canada.

You may come across marketing that tells you that the process for applying for a record suspension is extremely complicated and almost impossible to fill-out on your own.

In fact, you can apply directly to the PBC for a record suspension using the step-by-step instructions in the PBC Application Guide and forms.

If you need additional information or assistance, you can contact the PBC directly at:

1-800-874-2652 (toll-free)
suspension@pbc-clcc.gc.ca
The fee to apply for a record suspension is $50.00, and you can apply directly to the PBC.

Applicants should note that there are also additional fees for getting their criminal record, fingerprints and court records.

Third party companies also charge additional fees for their services, which can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to as much as $1,000.

If you suspect that you have been the victim of false or misleading representations

For more information on how to protect yourself from fraud, or to report a suspected fraudulent activity, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at:

Tel.: 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free)

Website: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (www.antifraudcentre.ca)

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2022-01-01

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