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UK Care Sector Recruitment Scams Exposed by BBC Investigation
The BBC’s Global Disinformation Unit, in collaboration with Africa Eye, has unveiled shocking insights into fraudulent practices by recruitment agents scamming foreign nationals seeking employment in the UK care sector. Undercover footage captured Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian doctor with NHS psychiatry experience, discussing how he illegally sells job placements.
The investigation highlights the apparent vulnerability of the system, which has been acknowledged by the Home Office, and shows how these agents have been able to operate with relative impunity while profiting from desperate applicants.
Methodologies of Deceit
Among the tactics used by these agents are:
- Illegally marketing non-existent jobs in UK care homes.
- Creating bogus payroll structures to disguise the absence of actual job opportunities.
- Diversifying recruitment efforts to other in-demand sectors, such as construction, amid growing labor shortages.
Increase in Fraudulent Activities
Reports of immigration scams have surged since the expansion of a government visa program in 2022, which originally targeted foreign medical professionals but was extended to include care workers. Applicants must obtain a “Certificate of Sponsorship” (CoS) from a licensed UK employer—a requirement that unscrupulous relocation agents exploit.
Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, emphasized the magnitude of the issue, stating, “The scale of exploitation under the Health and Care Work visa is significant,” calling it a national crisis resulting from systemic risks in the sponsorship framework. This structure has placed employers in a powerful position, allowing a market of opportunistic middlemen to flourish.
Undercover Investigations
In a recent undercover mission, BBC journalists approached various relocation agents, including Dr. Alaneme, the founder of CareerEdu, an agency in Harlow, Essex. His website promotes global opportunities for young Africans, boasting a client base of over 9,800.
During the interaction, Dr. Alaneme attempted to recruit the journalist to act as one of his agents, promising lucrative returns. “Just get me care homes. I can make you a millionaire,” he asserted, revealing the inner workings of his scam. He was prepared to pay £2,000 ($2,600) for each care home vacancy procured, in addition to offering a £500 ($650) commission.
Dr. Alaneme disclosed that he would sell these non-existent job placements back to candidates in Nigeria, adding a layer of deception to his operations. While he acknowledged the illegality of charging candidates for job placements, he explained that desperate applicants often felt they had no other options.
One individual, known as Praise, shared his experience of paying over £10,000 ($13,000) to Dr. Alaneme for a purported job with a care company that ultimately turned out to be a fabrication. “If I had known there was no job, I would have not come here. At least back home in Nigeria, if you go broke, I can find my sister or my parents and go and eat free food. It’s not the same here. You will go hungry,” he lamented.
Despite Dr. Alaneme’s assurances of assistance, the promised job never materialized. Praise eventually secured a position with a different provider willing to sponsor his stay in the UK almost a year later.
Discrepancies in Documentation
The investigation uncovered significant inconsistencies regarding employment figures at the discussed care provider, Efficiency for Care. While the provider reported employing an average of 16 individuals in 2022 and 152 in 2023, the Home Office revealed it had issued a staggering 1,234 Certificates of Sponsorship between March 2022 and May 2023. Following the investigation, Efficiency for Care’s sponsorship license was revoked in July 2023, yet the company continues to operate.
In a counter to the allegations, Efficiency for Care claims it lawfully recruited staff and is currently challenging the revocation in court.
Broader Market Exploitation
This issue extends beyond individual cases, with findings from the BBC showing other agents, like Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, replicating similar scams. Many victims of Agyemang-Prempeh reported spending tens of thousands of pounds for fictional positions.
During undercover interactions, Agyemang-Prempeh stated he had shifted focus to construction sector recruitment due to tightening regulations around care worker placements. While establishing his own construction company, he offered Certificates of Sponsorship for UK jobs at a price of £42,000 ($54,000) for three individuals, demonstrating the widespread nature of these scams.
Government Response
In light of these revelations, the UK government has enacted measures aimed at combating fraudulent employment practices. The Home Office has committed to taking decisive action against employers abusing the visa system, including banning businesses that violate UK employment laws from sponsoring overseas workers.
The BBC’s investigative team has previously spotlighted comparable visa scams, including those affecting international students and individuals in Kerala, India, further showcasing the global dimension of this problem.
Effective in November 2024, new regulations will require care providers in England to prioritize hiring international care workers already in the UK, rather than recruiting abroad, reflecting a growing awareness of the risks posed by rogue recruitment practices.
Source
www.bbc.com