An undercover investigation by BBC exposes recruitment agents, including a Nigerian doctor, involved in scams that deceive foreign nationals applying for care positions in the UK. The investigation reveals illegal practices, systemic exploitation of migrants, and the ease with which such scams can proliferate amid weak oversight.
Undercover BBC Investigation Uncovers Immigration Scams Targeting Foreign Workers in the UK
Undercover BBC Investigation Uncovers Immigration Scams Targeting Foreign Workers in the UK
Secret filming reveals a network of rogue recruitment agents exploiting immigrants seeking care jobs in the UK, highlighting systemic issues within the visa sponsorship process.
An undercover investigation by the BBC has exposed a network of rogue recruitment agents scamming foreign nationals who are trying to secure jobs in the UK's care sector. Among those highlighted in the investigation is Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian doctor with NHS background, who allegedly operates a recruitment agency named CareerEdu from Harlow, Essex. The secret footage shows Alaneme candidly discussing how he sells non-existent UK jobs to desperate foreign workers.
The BBC investigation comes in response to the alarming rise in reports of immigration scams amid changes to the UK visa scheme for health and care workers. The Home Office has admitted that its sponsorship system is vulnerable to misuse, allowing unscrupulous agents to profit off the hopes of migrants. One of the key problems lies in the requirement for a "Certificate of Sponsorship" (CoS) which these agents exploit, creating a lucrative yet predatory market.
In recorded conversations, Dr. Alaneme readily shares tactics for circumventing regulations—including fabricating job vacancies and creating fake payroll systems to mislead applicants into believing they were gaining legitimate employment opportunities. The BBC's team, posing as potential recruits, learned that Alaneme would pay a commission for every care home vacancy acquired, and that fees charged to candidates for jobs, which are supposed to be free, became a simmering concern.
One victim, known as Praise, claims to have lost over £10,000 ($13,000) to Dr. Alaneme for a job that turned out to be nonexistent. Praise expressed the devastating impact of his experience, having left Nigeria under the impression he would secure employment only to encounter hardship upon arrival in the UK.
Further investigations revealed another recruitment agent, Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, who has reportedly misled multiple individuals into paying for fake Cos documents for nonexistent care jobs. As regulations tighten in the care sector, Agyemang-Prempeh has pivoted to offering sponsorship for jobs in the construction industry, continuing the cycle of exploitation.
The Home Office has acknowledged the issue and promises stricter measures against employers abusing the visa system. They have also indicated forthcoming actions to ensure that businesses violating laws regarding overseas hiring will face penalties.
This investigation not only sheds light on the growing trend of immigration scams in the UK but also underscores the systemic shortcomings within the visa sponsorship framework aimed at protecting vulnerable migrants seeking a better future. As the UK government prepares to enact tighter regulations, the stories of those affected serve as a crucial reminder of the need for more robust safeguards in the immigration process.
