Key Takeaways
• Franklin Lee sued Maggie Ozen for C$500,000 fraud in Yukon Business Nominee Program on May 12, 2025.
• Earlier, Wenbin Zhang claimed losing nearly C$600,000 due to misuse of funds by Ozen’s family.
• Yukon Supreme Court lawsuits expose risks and demand stricter immigration consultant oversight in Canada.
A second lawsuit has been filed against a Whitehorse immigration consultant, Maggie Ozen, alleging a major financial scam tied to the Yukon Business Nominee Program. On May 12, 2025, Franklin Lee, a businessman from Hong Kong, brought a C$500,000 claim to the Yukon Supreme Court, saying he was defrauded while seeking help to immigrate to Canada 🇨🇦. This follows a similar lawsuit from earlier in the year, raising serious questions about the risks faced by immigrants and the need for stronger oversight of immigration consultants in the Yukon.
What Happened: The New Lawsuit
Franklin Lee’s lawsuit targets Maggie Ozen, her immigration consultancy, and her brother-in-law, Ivan Tang. Lee says he lost nearly C$500,000 after Ozen promised to help him through the Yukon Business Nominee Program. According to Lee, Ozen told him to invest C$300,000 in a dry-cleaning business linked to Tang, then charged him another C$80,000 for representing him to the Yukon and federal governments. Lee claims Ozen created fake invoices, added extra fees, and gave advice that went against the program’s rules.
Lee also alleges that Tang took business funds without permission and even assaulted him when Lee asked for a fairer share of management duties. Tang’s actions, Lee says, led to financial losses for the business, including misleading customers about broken equipment. In January 2025, Ozen stopped acting as Lee’s immigration representative, and Tang left the business after finding another way to secure his own immigration status.
Lee is asking the court to declare his agreement with Ozen and Tang invalid, saying it should not be enforced against him.
Earlier Lawsuit: A Pattern of Alleged Misconduct
This is not the first time Maggie Ozen has faced such accusations. Earlier in 2025, Wenbin Zhang filed a lawsuit claiming he lost almost C$600,000 to Ozen under similar circumstances. Zhang’s case also involves the Yukon Business Nominee Program. He says Ozen redirected his funds to her husband’s business instead of using them for his immigration process. Zhang only learned in April 2025 that Maggie and her husband, Murat Ozen, were married—a fact he says was hidden from him.
Zhang expected to manage a store and earn income, but Ozen allegedly hired her sister and a friend of her son to run the business, leaving Zhang out. After three years and nearly C$600,000 spent, Zhang did not meet the requirements for permanent residency and now has to look for other ways to stay in Canada 🇨🇦.
Jimmy Burg, Zhang’s lawyer, said that while lawsuits against immigration consultants are becoming more common, the details of Zhang’s case are “particularly severe.”
Responses from the Accused
As of late May 2025, Maggie Ozen and Ivan Tang have not filed a defense in response to Lee’s lawsuit. When contacted, Ozen declined to comment but said she wants to share her side of the story after the case is resolved. Tang did not respond to requests for comment.
In the Zhang case, all defendants have denied any wrongdoing and referred questions to their lawyers. Both Maggie and Murat Ozen have said they hope to tell their full story once the legal process is complete.
The Yukon Business Nominee Program: How It Works
The Yukon Business Nominee Program is designed to attract entrepreneurs to the Yukon by offering a path to permanent residency. To qualify, applicants must:
- Invest a significant amount in a local business (often hundreds of thousands of Canadian dollars)
- Actively manage the business themselves
- Meet specific performance targets related to investment, marketing, and sales
- Show business success before being nominated for permanent residency
Applicants sign agreements that outline these requirements. If they do not meet the targets—such as not having control over the business—they may not be nominated for permanent residency. This was the case for Zhang, who says he was unable to meet the program’s goals because he did not have a controlling interest in his business.
For official details on the Yukon Business Nominee Program, readers can visit the Government of Yukon’s official immigration page.
Immigration Consultant Fraud: A Growing Problem
These lawsuits come at a time when immigration fraud is a growing concern across Canada 🇨🇦. Immigration consultant fraud can take many forms, including:
- Charging illegal fees: For example, making applicants pay for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is not allowed. The LMIA is a document that shows there is a need for a foreign worker to fill a job in Canada 🇨🇦, and employers—not workers—should pay for it. More information about the LMIA can be found on the official Canadian government website.
- Pretending to be licensed consultants: Some people pose as authorized immigration consultants but are not licensed to provide immigration advice.
- Selling fake documents: Fraudsters may offer fake job offers, work permits, or other immigration documents for large sums of money.
The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) has warned that any time a worker is asked to pay for an LMIA, it is considered fraud. The ICCRC is working to stop “unauthorized practitioners” who pretend to be licensed professionals and try to sell immigration documents. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has taken down over 5,000 websites and social media accounts advertising unauthorized consultants.
As Canada 🇨🇦 tightens its rules for permanent residency, more scams have appeared online. Some offer fake jobs to foreign workers for as much as C$45,000.
In one of the largest Canadian immigration scams, exposed in 2019, thousands of people lost their immigration status or were declared inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act after being tricked by fraudulent consultants.
Why Are Immigrants Vulnerable?
Immigrants often trust consultants to help them with complex paperwork and rules. Many are desperate for a chance to live and work in Canada 🇨🇦, making them easy targets for scams. According to Cassandra Fultz, a registered consultant in Toronto, her office often hears from people who are unsure if their immigration documents are real. She says, “When someone is desperate for a job or the chance to work in Canada, they’re more likely to believe promises that seem too good to be true.”
Fultz has called on the federal government to investigate fraud claims made by immigration consultants who risk their reputations to report scams.
What Does This Mean for Immigrants and Stakeholders?
These lawsuits highlight several important issues for immigrants, consultants, and Canadian authorities:
For Immigrants
- Be careful when choosing a consultant: Always check if the consultant is licensed by the ICCRC. You can search for authorized consultants on the ICCRC’s official website.
- Never pay for an LMIA: Employers, not workers, are supposed to pay for this document.
- Ask for clear contracts: Make sure you understand what you are paying for and what services will be provided.
- Keep records: Save all emails, receipts, and contracts in case you need to take legal action.
For Consultants
- Follow the rules: Only licensed consultants can give immigration advice. Charging illegal fees or hiding conflicts of interest can lead to lawsuits and loss of license.
- Be transparent: Clearly explain your relationship to any businesses involved in the immigration process.
- Protect your reputation: Report any fraud you see, even if it means risking your own business.
For Canadian Authorities
- Increase oversight: These cases show the need for better monitoring of immigration consultants, especially in smaller regions like the Yukon.
- Educate the public: More information should be given to immigrants about how to spot scams and what to expect from the immigration process.
- Enforce penalties: Stronger action against fraudulent consultants can help protect future immigrants.
The Role of the Courts
Both lawsuits against the Whitehorse immigration consultant are now before the Yukon Supreme Court. The outcomes will be closely watched by immigrants, consultants, and government officials. If the courts find in favor of Lee or Zhang, it could lead to more lawsuits from other victims and possibly changes in how the Yukon Business Nominee Program is managed.
How to Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams
If you are thinking about immigrating to Canada 🇨🇦, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Check consultant credentials: Use the ICCRC’s online search tool to make sure your consultant is licensed.
- Understand the program: Read official information about the Yukon Business Nominee Program and other immigration streams on government websites.
- Be wary of large upfront payments: Legitimate consultants should not ask for huge sums before providing services.
- Ask questions: If something seems unclear or too good to be true, ask for more details or get a second opinion.
- Report suspicious activity: If you think you have been scammed, report it to the ICCRC or local authorities.
What’s Next?
As of now, the Yukon Supreme Court has not made a decision in either lawsuit. Both Maggie Ozen and Ivan Tang have said they want to share their side of the story after the legal process is finished. The cases have already drawn attention to the risks involved in using immigration consultants and the need for better protections for immigrants.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these lawsuits could lead to stricter rules for consultants and more education for immigrants about their rights and responsibilities. The Yukon Business Nominee Program may also see changes to prevent similar problems in the future.
Takeaways for Readers
- If you are considering the Yukon Business Nominee Program, make sure you work with a licensed consultant and understand all the requirements.
- If you have lost money to a consultant, you may have legal options to recover your funds.
- Stay informed: Use official government resources to learn about immigration programs and avoid scams.
- Keep documentation: Save all contracts, receipts, and communication with your consultant.
For more information about immigration programs in the Yukon, visit the official Yukon government immigration page.
Conclusion
The lawsuits against the Whitehorse immigration consultant show how important it is for immigrants to be careful when seeking help with Canadian immigration. With large sums of money at stake and the dream of a new life in Canada 🇨🇦 on the line, it is vital to work with trusted professionals and stay informed about your rights. As these cases move through the courts, they will likely shape the future of the Yukon Business Nominee Program and the way immigration consultants operate across Canada 🇨🇦.
Learn Today
Yukon Business Nominee Program → A program inviting entrepreneurs to invest and manage Yukon businesses to qualify for Canadian permanent residency.
Immigration Consultant → A licensed professional authorized to provide advice and services regarding immigration to Canada.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) → A government document showing an employer’s need for a foreign worker in Canada; employers must pay fees.
Unauthorized Practitioner → A person offering immigration services without official licensing, often involved in fraudulent activities.
Permanent Residency → A legal status allowing a foreign national to live and work indefinitely in Canada.
This Article in a Nutshell
Two lawsuits accuse Whitehorse consultant Maggie Ozen of major financial fraud tied to the Yukon Business Nominee Program. Claims involve false invoices, unauthorized fees, and management abuse. These cases highlight immigrant vulnerabilities and the urgent need for tighter regulation of immigration consultants in Canada’s Yukon territory.
— By VisaVerge.com
