Undercover footage from a BBC investigation has shed light on the brazen tactics employed by rogue recruitment agents scamming foreign nationals seeking work in the UK's care sector. The investigation has exposed a Nigerian doctor, Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, who allegedly sold job opportunities to unsuspecting candidates, profiting from their desperation.
The Home Office has acknowledged that the system is susceptible to abuse, but the BBC's report reveals how easily these agents avoid detection while exploiting vulnerable individuals. Undercover journalists approached relocation agents, highlighting methods such as illegally selling jobs, creating fake payroll schemes, and shifting focus to other sectors like construction, which are also facing staff shortages.
This surge in immigration scams follows the UK government's broadening of a visa scheme in 2022, meant to attract foreign medical professionals and subsequently care workers. To obtain a visa, international candidates must secure a "Certificate of Sponsorship" (CoS) from a Home Office-licensed UK employer—this requirement has become a focal point for exploitation by unscrupulous agents.
Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, notes the "significant" scale of exploitation through the Health and Care Work visa, framing the situation as a national crisis driven by a sponsorship system that empowers employers disproportionately.
The investigation also revealed alarming cases of individuals like Praise, a Nigerian national who paid over £10,000 for a nonexistent job in the UK. He only discovered the scam upon arrival, leading to months of anguish as he sought answers from both Dr. Alaneme and the supposed employer, Efficiency for Care.
Despite the revocation of Efficiency for Care's sponsorship licence after the Home Office uncovered discrepancies, the company continues its operation and contests the revocation in court. They deny any collusion with Alaneme.
In a further twist, Alaneme detailed his strategies, including offering CoS documents for jobs that weren't genuine, allowing workers to choose their cities of residence under false pretenses—a method that jeopardizes their visa status.
Additional undercover footage captured Mr. Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, another UK-based agent, providing fake CoS documents as he transitioned from care to construction jobs, capitalizing on sector vulnerabilities. He was prepared to charge an exorbitant fee of £42,000 to facilitate bringing workers from Uganda.
The Home Office has taken steps to address the issue, with over 470 care sector licences revoked since mid-2022 amidst a crackdown on employers abusing the immigration system. New guidelines also emphasize prioritizing residents in the UK for employment before recruiting abroad.
As the investigation continues to unravel the depth of these scams, the plight of affected individuals highlights the urgent need for reform in the sponsorship process to protect vulnerable job seekers from fraud.
