Patiss came to Canada from Afghan about 3.5 months ago and unfortunitely as a newcomer, she was unaware of a common, Bitcoin-transfer scam that most Canadians have heard about. The fraudsters told Patiss there were criminal bank transactions made under her name, and eventually got her to transfer Bitcoin from a convenience store. She ended up losing $7,000.
Having to leave your homeland to start a new life in another country can be an overwhelming experience. Patiss’ story is a reminder that we need to do more to help newcomers adapt and integrate into a new community.
The lesson we’ve learned here? Orientational programs for immigrants should definitely include tips on identifying common scams!
And the upside from this story? A good Samaritan started a GoFundMe page which raised enough money to help Patiss meet her immediate needs. It’s also forseable that Canada is able to provide a much safer environment, as well as better opportunities for Patiss than Afghan; under Taliban rule, well-educated women such as Patiss (with two Masters degrees) may be forbidden to work in Afghan. Patiss previously worked for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.
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