Undercover footage from the BBC’s Global Disinformation Unit has unveiled the illicit tactics of recruitment agents swindling foreign nationals seeking jobs in the UK care sector. The investigation centered around Dr. Kelvin Alaneme, a Nigerian doctor with a previous NHS background, who is allegedly running a scam through his agency, CareerEdu. The Home Office has recognized vulnerabilities in the system, but the ease of exploitation by such agents is alarming.
The investigation highlights several deceitful methods used by these agents, including illegally selling non-existent jobs and creating fake payroll systems. Reports of immigration fraud surged after the UK expanded its visa scheme for foreign health care workers in 2022, further increasing accessibility for unscrupulous agents.
Undercover journalists discovered Alaneme offering to pay £2,000 for each care position secured and charging desperate candidates hefty fees for jobs that often do not exist. A victim named Praise revealed he paid over £10,000 for a promised role, only to find it was a fabrication.
The scandal extends beyond just one individual, with other agents like Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh also implicated. With a rise in fake sponsorship documents and the pivoting of these agents to less regulated sectors like construction, the situation signals a broader crisis in immigrant worker exploitation.
The Home Office is under pressure, facing scrutiny for its sponsorship system and the need for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable foreign workers from exploitation. With ongoing investigations, change in the UK’s approach toward recruitment fraud is anticipated.
