A global network has exploited students, swindling them out of tens of thousands of pounds for worthless visa documents they believed would allow them to work in the UK.

A BBC investigation revealed that middlemen posing as recruitment agents targeted international students seeking jobs in the care sector.

These students paid as much as £17,000 each for sponsorship certificates that were supposed to be provided at no cost. When they applied for skilled worker visas, their applications were denied by the Home Office due to invalid documentation.

A 21-year-old from India, Nadia, recounted her ordeal after paying £10,000 to an agent for the right documents to work in a care home. After months of waiting, she discovered that the care home had no record of her sponsorship

The case of a Pakistani national, Taimoor Raza, who allegedly sold 141 visa documents—most of which were invalid netting nearly £1.2 million. Raza operated from the West Midlands, posing as a legitimate recruitment agent, and promised students job placements in care homes.

He reportedly began with some legitimate documents but quickly shifted to selling fraudulent ones. Despite some students receiving valid visas and jobs, many others have lost their life savings.

A man, Ajay Thind, paid £16,000 for a care worker visa, worked for Raza, filling out paperwork, but grew suspicious when multiple applications were rejected by the Home Office. Despite his concerns, he felt trapped due to financial reliance on the job, suggesting the total fraud might exceed £1.2 million.

“A lot of people don’t go to the police because they’re terrified of the Home Office and the consequences of reporting,” Head of immigration at the Work Rights Centre Luke Piper said.

Experts have urged the UK government to take stronger measures against these fraudulent practices and support victims in reporting such crimes without fear of repercussions. A spokesperson from the Home Office assured that there are stringent systems in place to identify and prevent fraudulent visa applications but acknowledged that more needs to be done.

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In 2022, the UK’s care sector, which includes care homes and agencies, faced a record shortage of workers, with 165,000 positions unfilled.

To address this, the government expanded recruitment options to include international applicants, resulting in increased interest from countries like India, Nigeria, and the Philippines.