The BBC's secret filming uncovers brazen tactics used by scammers, highlighting systemic issues in the immigration process and the urgent need for regulatory reforms.
**Exposed: UK Immigration Scams Targeting Foreign Workers**
**Exposed: UK Immigration Scams Targeting Foreign Workers**
An undercover investigation reveals rogue recruitment agents exploiting migrant workers in the UK care sector.
Undercover footage from a BBC investigation has revealed the alarming tactics of recruitment agents who are defrauding foreign nationals seeking employment in the UK care sector. Notably, Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian doctor who has worked with the NHS, was caught on camera discussing how he sells non-existent jobs to desperate job seekers.
The investigation indicates that the current immigration system, established to recruit foreign medical professionals, has been increasingly exploited, particularly since a 2022 policy allowed care workers to enter the UK. With the necessity of a "Certificate of Sponsorship" (CoS) from licensed UK employers, dishonest agents are developing schemes that take advantage of vulnerable migrants in search of work.
Dora-Olivia Vicol, the CEO of the Work Rights Centre, commented on the situation, saying, "The scale of exploitation under the Health and Care Work visa is significant," and expresses concern about the inherent risks posed by the sponsorship structure. She claims it empowers unscrupulous intermediaries, thus fostering a predatory environment.
The BBC dispatched undercover journalists to investigate these agents. During one encounter, Dr. Alaneme pitched a lucrative partnership opportunity to the undercover operative, offering substantial financial rewards for securing care home vacancies, which he planned to sell to candidates in Nigeria. He acknowledged that charging candidates for job placements is illegal in the UK, yet he suggested that most applicants felt compelled to pay due to the circumstances.
Among the victims was a Nigerian man, referred to as Praise, who paid over £10,000 for a position that ultimately proved non-existent. Feeling deceived, he lamented, "If I had known there was no job, I would have not come here." Nearly a year later, he managed to find another employer willing to sponsor him.
Further investigation revealed that one care company, Efficiency for Care, had provided an astounding 1,234 Certificates of Sponsorship within 14 months, despite employing just a handful of staff. Although their sponsorship license was revoked in 2023, the company continues to operate and disputes the allegations of collusion with Dr. Alaneme's agency.
Additionally, the BBC documented another agent, Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, who has transitioned from the care sector to construction, perpetuating similar scams with fake sponsorship documents. Promising CoS for a substantial fee, he claimed an extensive network would facilitate the fraudulent placements. His own sponsorship license has since been revoked, and he attributed his wrongdoing to being misled by other agents.
In light of these investigations, the Home Office has vowed to crack down on employers taking advantage of the visa system. In a recent statement, they announced plans to ban businesses that violate UK employment laws from sponsoring foreign workers and have initiated stricter regulations in the care sector, aiming to prioritize those already in the UK.
Prior investigations by the BBC on similar immigration scams have surfaced globally, revealing a troubling pattern of exploitation within the immigration system. As the government implements reforms to mitigate these abuses, the plight of affected foreign workers serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities within immigration processes and the pressing need for adequate protections.
The investigation indicates that the current immigration system, established to recruit foreign medical professionals, has been increasingly exploited, particularly since a 2022 policy allowed care workers to enter the UK. With the necessity of a "Certificate of Sponsorship" (CoS) from licensed UK employers, dishonest agents are developing schemes that take advantage of vulnerable migrants in search of work.
Dora-Olivia Vicol, the CEO of the Work Rights Centre, commented on the situation, saying, "The scale of exploitation under the Health and Care Work visa is significant," and expresses concern about the inherent risks posed by the sponsorship structure. She claims it empowers unscrupulous intermediaries, thus fostering a predatory environment.
The BBC dispatched undercover journalists to investigate these agents. During one encounter, Dr. Alaneme pitched a lucrative partnership opportunity to the undercover operative, offering substantial financial rewards for securing care home vacancies, which he planned to sell to candidates in Nigeria. He acknowledged that charging candidates for job placements is illegal in the UK, yet he suggested that most applicants felt compelled to pay due to the circumstances.
Among the victims was a Nigerian man, referred to as Praise, who paid over £10,000 for a position that ultimately proved non-existent. Feeling deceived, he lamented, "If I had known there was no job, I would have not come here." Nearly a year later, he managed to find another employer willing to sponsor him.
Further investigation revealed that one care company, Efficiency for Care, had provided an astounding 1,234 Certificates of Sponsorship within 14 months, despite employing just a handful of staff. Although their sponsorship license was revoked in 2023, the company continues to operate and disputes the allegations of collusion with Dr. Alaneme's agency.
Additionally, the BBC documented another agent, Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, who has transitioned from the care sector to construction, perpetuating similar scams with fake sponsorship documents. Promising CoS for a substantial fee, he claimed an extensive network would facilitate the fraudulent placements. His own sponsorship license has since been revoked, and he attributed his wrongdoing to being misled by other agents.
In light of these investigations, the Home Office has vowed to crack down on employers taking advantage of the visa system. In a recent statement, they announced plans to ban businesses that violate UK employment laws from sponsoring foreign workers and have initiated stricter regulations in the care sector, aiming to prioritize those already in the UK.
Prior investigations by the BBC on similar immigration scams have surfaced globally, revealing a troubling pattern of exploitation within the immigration system. As the government implements reforms to mitigate these abuses, the plight of affected foreign workers serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities within immigration processes and the pressing need for adequate protections.
