Shady Canadian:
Have you ever met someone who seems exceptionally skilled at pushing people away? I encountered such an individual recently, and the experience began with a seemingly innocuous message on LinkedIn from a Canadian immigration service company named ImmigCanada. Considering Canada as a potential destination for emigration from Japan in the future, I replied to their message, providing my email address and phone number. This marked the onset of a rather uncomfortable interaction with them.
A few days later, I received a congratulatory message from them, stating that I had passed their ‘screening test.’ This claim immediately raised my eyebrows, as the only information I had provided was my job title, Java developer. Without any review of my work history, they were suddenly eager to talk to me, based solely on my job title. This was when the situation began to feel odd.
The following day, an agent from the firm, Mr.S, started calling me, even during my work hours, all the way from Canada. In today’s digital age, the insistence on phone calls struck me as peculiar. Why not use Zoom or Google Meet instead? C then began to send a barrage of emails, attempting to reach me desperately.
After scheduling a meeting time with Mr.S through one of his emails, we had a phone conversation. However, the call quality was so poor, due to the unstable international connection, that I suggested moving our conversation online. Mr.S’s counter was that Canadian laws mandate all conversations with potential immigration candidates be recorded, which was why he insisted on using the phone. I couldn’t trust him.
Skype conversation:
Eventually, we transitioned our conversation to Skype, where he began to employ high-pressure sales tactics, confirming my suspicions that he was a prime example of what one might call a “walking red flag.”
“If you want to keep living in your illusion, go ahead. I’ll look for another candidate who is interested in working in Canada,” Mr.S told me, in a manner that came across as particularly condescending. His attitude only worsened as his rapid-fire speech intensified.
“We’re the best immigration agents in Canada!” Mr.S boasted. Moreover, he questioned whether I owned a laptop or desktop as if I might be someone from a less developed country. Wait a second—I’m in Japan, and I’m an engineer. Hadn’t it crossed his mind that I most certainly would own a laptop? What was he thinking?
His tone of voice, the way he spoke, and everything about our interaction were dubious at best. All I could perceive were numerous red flags.
A machinegun talk:
Mr.S failed to realize that I was not naive. Having been approached by numerous companies and individuals, I knew that Canada should not be my only option for immigration.
“I don’t even know how to respond after the machinegun talk,” I told Mr.S.
Mr.S responded with a cynical laugh, and our conversation did not last much longer. The entire exchange was uncomfortable, and he even demanded $3000 for the immigration service. If you are considering immigrating to Canada, I would advise against trusting any dubious businesses, including ImmigCanada.
It seemed to me that those whom he typically interacted with might be individuals from developing countries, who are perhaps less informed about these matters. And through his communication, it appeared he might have mistakenly categorized Japan as one of those developing countries.
If I ever have the chance to speak with him again, I would simply want to ask, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
Conclusion:
Never compromise your education when dealing with individuals who are, in essence, walking red flags. Unknowingly, they signal warnings through their behaviors and choice of words, which can make others feel undeniably uncomfortable.
Some people depend solely on their ability to talk their way through life. Personally, I find it hard to respect such a lifestyle. Mr.S, you are an embarrassment to humanity!