The BBC World's latest findings shed light on rampant immigration scams within the UK's care sector, revealing a vast network of deceit and rogue agents.
**UK Care Sector Immigration Scammers Exposed by BBC Undercover Investigation**
**UK Care Sector Immigration Scammers Exposed by BBC Undercover Investigation**
Recruitment agents selling fake job opportunities to foreign nationals laid bare in shocking footage.
In a stunning revelation, a secret filming operation by the BBC has unearthed the deceitful tactics employed by recruitment agents who exploit foreign nationals seeking employment in the UK care sector. One revealed agent is Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian doctor with ties to the NHS, who was seen in undercover videos explaining how he sells non-existent job opportunities.
The BBC's Global Disinformation Unit, along with Africa Eye, has highlighted the alarming ease with which these rogue recruitment agents operate, with the Home Office admitting that the system is indeed vulnerable to abuse. The investigation sheds light on various illegal activities, such as the selling of jobs in care companies, the creation of fake payroll systems to hide nonexistent jobs, and the transition into other job sectors like construction, which are also facing worker shortages.
Alarming trends have emerged as reports of such immigration scams have surged since the government's visa program was expanded in 2022 to include care workers. This program requires candidates to obtain a "Certificate of Sponsorship" (CoS) from a licensed UK employer, creating an avenue for exploitation by unscrupulous relocation agents. Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of Work Rights Centre, stated, “The scale of exploitation under the Health and Care Work visa is significant. I think it has turned into a national crisis.”
The investigative team sent two undercover journalists to pose as potential clients, leading them to Dr. Alaneme, who runs an agency called CareerEdu, claiming to be a platform for "global opportunities." He aggressively recruited one journalist to become his agent, promising an enormous potential profit for securing care home vacancies, even offering her cash to ensure she brought them business.
The BBC also interviewed a victim identified as Praise, who claimed to have paid Dr. Alaneme over £10,000 for a non-existent job. Praise recounted his desperation upon realizing he had been duped and emphasized the challenges of living without support in the UK. Compounding matters, Efficiency for Care, a company linked to the scam, had its sponsorship license revoked in July 2023 yet continues its operations while challenging the decision in court.
The investigation did not stop with just one agent; it revealed that Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, another UK-based agent, provided fake sponsorship documents for job seekers. His switch into the construction sector further demonstrates the expanding web of deceit as the care sector faces scrutiny. Agyemang-Prempeh has also had his license revoked following a discovery that he had collected significant fees for false job placements.
In response to the revelations, the Home Office has vowed to implement strict measures against employers who exploit the visa system, aiming to ban those who do not adhere to UK employment laws from sponsoring foreign workers.
As investigations continue, the alarming rise of immigration scams within the UK's care sector has brought attention to the vital need for reform and enhanced protection for vulnerable job seekers, not just in the UK but across borders where such exploitation surfaces. This ongoing investigation brings urgency to the dialogue about ethical recruitment practices while shedding light on the desperate situations faced by many seeking a better future.
The BBC's Global Disinformation Unit, along with Africa Eye, has highlighted the alarming ease with which these rogue recruitment agents operate, with the Home Office admitting that the system is indeed vulnerable to abuse. The investigation sheds light on various illegal activities, such as the selling of jobs in care companies, the creation of fake payroll systems to hide nonexistent jobs, and the transition into other job sectors like construction, which are also facing worker shortages.
Alarming trends have emerged as reports of such immigration scams have surged since the government's visa program was expanded in 2022 to include care workers. This program requires candidates to obtain a "Certificate of Sponsorship" (CoS) from a licensed UK employer, creating an avenue for exploitation by unscrupulous relocation agents. Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of Work Rights Centre, stated, “The scale of exploitation under the Health and Care Work visa is significant. I think it has turned into a national crisis.”
The investigative team sent two undercover journalists to pose as potential clients, leading them to Dr. Alaneme, who runs an agency called CareerEdu, claiming to be a platform for "global opportunities." He aggressively recruited one journalist to become his agent, promising an enormous potential profit for securing care home vacancies, even offering her cash to ensure she brought them business.
The BBC also interviewed a victim identified as Praise, who claimed to have paid Dr. Alaneme over £10,000 for a non-existent job. Praise recounted his desperation upon realizing he had been duped and emphasized the challenges of living without support in the UK. Compounding matters, Efficiency for Care, a company linked to the scam, had its sponsorship license revoked in July 2023 yet continues its operations while challenging the decision in court.
The investigation did not stop with just one agent; it revealed that Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, another UK-based agent, provided fake sponsorship documents for job seekers. His switch into the construction sector further demonstrates the expanding web of deceit as the care sector faces scrutiny. Agyemang-Prempeh has also had his license revoked following a discovery that he had collected significant fees for false job placements.
In response to the revelations, the Home Office has vowed to implement strict measures against employers who exploit the visa system, aiming to ban those who do not adhere to UK employment laws from sponsoring foreign workers.
As investigations continue, the alarming rise of immigration scams within the UK's care sector has brought attention to the vital need for reform and enhanced protection for vulnerable job seekers, not just in the UK but across borders where such exploitation surfaces. This ongoing investigation brings urgency to the dialogue about ethical recruitment practices while shedding light on the desperate situations faced by many seeking a better future.
