A BBC World Service investigation has uncovered the deceptive practices of UK immigration scammers targeting foreign nationals seeking work visa in the UK care sector.
These rogue recruitment agents have exploited a government visa scheme designed to bring medical professionals and care workers to the UK.
Tactics Used by Immigration Scammers
The investigation revealed a variety of tactics used by unscrupulous agents, including:
– Selling non-existent jobs in UK care companies.
– Creating fake payroll systems to hide the fact that certain jobs don’t exist.
– Shifting focus from care work to other sectors, like construction, which also face staff shortages.
The rise in immigration scams coincides with the expansion of the Health and Care Worker visa scheme in 2022, which now allows foreign workers to apply for jobs in the care sector. Candidates need a “Certificate of Sponsorship” (CoS) from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office, which is being exploited by dishonest relocation agents.
Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, a charity supporting migrants, described the situation as a “national crisis.” She highlighted the risks posed by the sponsorship system, which places significant power in the hands of employers and has led to a surge in predatory middlemen.
BBC Undercover Investigation
The BBC conducted undercover investigations, sending two journalists to engage with relocation agents operating in the UK. One journalist approached Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian doctor and founder of CareerEdu, an agency based in Harlow, Essex. Dr. Alaneme’s business promises “global opportunities” for young Africans but has been linked to immigration scams.
In a secret meeting, Dr. Alaneme offered the BBC journalist a business partnership, claiming she could earn substantial commissions by securing care home vacancies. He said he would pay £2,000 ($2,600) for each vacancy, plus a £500 ($650) commission. He also admitted that these jobs were being sold illegally to candidates back in Nigeria.
Dr. Alaneme downplayed the illegality of the scam, explaining that while candidates should not have to pay for jobs, they often feel forced to do so due to limited options.
Victims of the Scams
The BBC also spoke to victims of Dr. Alaneme’s scheme, including Praise, a Nigerian man who paid over £10,000 ($13,000) for a supposed job at Efficiency for Care in Clacton-on-Sea. Upon arrival in the UK, Praise discovered the job didn’t exist. Despite multiple attempts to get answers from both Dr. Alaneme and the company, he was left without work and support. After almost a year, he found another care provider willing to sponsor him.
Efficiency for Care, a care company linked to these scams, was found to have issued 1,234 CoS documents for foreign workers, despite employing only 16 people in 2022 and 152 in 2023. In July 2023, the Home Office revoked its sponsorship license, though the company continues to operate.
Sophisticated Scams and Fake Documents
Dr. Alaneme also revealed more advanced methods of scamming, including issuing CoS for jobs that did not exist. He claimed this allowed migrants to choose any city in the UK, which is false. Migrants must work in the role for which their visa was issued, or risk deportation.
Additionally, Dr. Alaneme explained how to set up fake payroll systems to cover up these non-existent jobs, creating false financial records that would pass government inspections.
Other Agents and Expanding Scams
The investigation also exposed Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, another UK-based recruitment agent who provided fake CoS documents. He even expanded his operations into the construction sector, claiming he could offer sponsorships for £42,000 ($54,000) for three Ugandan construction workers. Agyemang-Prempeh said the tightening rules in the care sector were pushing agents to target other industries, including IT.
Government Response and Crackdown
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the UK government revoked more than 470 care sector licenses, affecting over 39,000 foreign workers. In response, the Home Office has vowed to take stronger action against employers who abuse the visa system.
In November 2024, the government introduced measures to crack down on “rogue” employers, and from April 2025, care providers in England will be required to prioritize recruiting international care workers already in the UK before hiring from abroad.
