Canadian officials in Hong Kong uncovered a scam that sold fake wedding packages to try and help would-be immigrants get easier access to Canada. The packages cost about $60,000 each.

OTTAWA – A meeting in Paris Monday will focus on cracking down on human smuggling and the international criminal organizations behind it.

Canada’s immigration minister, Jason Kenney, will be at the meeting, along with representatives from France, Britain, Italy, Germany and the U.S.

The agenda will deal with illegal immigration, border security, human smuggling and refugees.

A spokesman for Kenney said the meeting — the first of its kind — will allow Canada to speak with other like-minded countries and share information on the best way to deal with common issues.

From Paris, Kenney will travel to India, China and the Philippines to discuss immigration fraud with political leaders.

“We are focused on cracking down on widespread immigration fraud and the crooked consultants who make it happen,” Kenney told QMI Agency.

“Many of the people that are exploited by crooked consultants live overseas, and that’s why we need the help of foreign governments to crack down on fraudsters and document counterfeiters who take thousands of dollars in exchange for nothing.”

Kenney described going to India’s Punjab province in early 2009 and seeing what Canadian officials at the visa office there described as “the wall of shame.”

“There was everything from Photoshopped pictures of brides and grooms with heads on other people's bodies to fake letters of reference from MPs,” said Kenney.

Other forged documents seized by Canadian officials included falsified bank records, academic transcripts, fake marriage certificates and even counterfeit death certificates.

One group of fraudsters uncovered by Canadian officials in Hong Kong were dubbed “The Burgundy Suitcase Mafia.” More than a dozen applications to bring a spouses into Canada were submitted to the Canadian visa office in Hong Kong. All the photos showed a couple sitting on a bed, often surrounded by family members. Immigration officials questioning the applicants were assured the photos were all taken in their homes.

Under inspection, the Canadian officials noticed that all of the pictures were taken in the same room, with the same decorations. The biggest giveaway was the same burgundy suitcase sitting on top of a wardrobe in the top left corner of the photo.

Applicants eventually admitted they had paid on average $60,000 for a fraudulent package to guarantee their successful application to Canada.

Officials estimate that on scam bilked would-be immigrants of more than $800,000.

Kenney described another scam where “consultants” will promise they can acquire a visa for entry into Canada, take money from clients and send out fake rejection letters. No actual application for a Canadian visa was ever submitted.

“People come to our offices and ask why they were turned down and we have no record of them,” said Kenney.

“Canada is very open to newcomers, but we want them to come the legal way, and protect would-be immigrants from these scamsters.”

Kenney said he will press officials in India, China and the Philippines to bring in their own legislation or enforce existing laws to protect people from immigration fraud that happens overseas.