Scam Alert: Fraudsters Target Nigerians With Fake UK Care Home Job Offers

Scam Alert: Fraudsters Target Nigerians With Fake UK Care Home Job OffersIn this report, VICTOR AYENI highlights how Nigerian travel hopefuls are being defrauded by agencies that falsely promise Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS), essential for securing skilled jobs in the United Kingdom.

In March 2022, Mrs. Funmilayo Buraimo-Danmusa received a call from a UK-based legal associate, Olalekan Ayuba. Ayuba informed her that his company, Click Operations Limited (UK), had recently been registered with the National Health Service (NHS) and approved by the Home Office to conduct international recruitment.

This registration authorized Ayuba’s agency to recruit immigrants seeking caregiver jobs in the UK, who would be issued a Certificate of Sponsorship. A CoS is a crucial electronic document confirming that the prospective immigrant has been offered a job, allowing them to apply for a work visa. The employer must be government-approved to issue sponsorship, and once a CoS is granted, it must be used within three months to apply for a visa.

Buraimo-Danmusa, confident in the legitimacy of Ayuba’s business after verifying his company’s details, made payments for documentation, health insurance, and application fees for herself and her sister. She even referred new clients to Ayuba, many of whom had left other offers in favor of Click Operations.

However, as time passed, Ayuba failed to deliver the promised CoS, leading to financial ruin and heartbreak for many applicants. Buraimo-Danmusa recounted how she and other victims spent millions on tuberculosis tests, international driving licenses, and other certifications, only to be left stranded. Tragically, her nephew, whose medical treatment she hoped to fund with the job in the UK, passed away while waiting for their CoS.

Several applicants, including Isaac Olatunji and Mrs. Bolanle Ogunbanwo, reported losing their life savings and enduring months of delays and false promises. Olatunji paid Ayuba N5 million, but despite months of waiting, Ayuba refused to issue the CoS or refund the money. Ogunbanwo described similar frustrations, noting that the delay disrupted her family’s plans and her children’s education.

Ayuba eventually cut off all contact, blocking applicants on social media and refusing calls. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, with Ayuba only responding to emails by denying allegations of financial scams.

This fraudulent scheme is not isolated. Reports indicate that many Nigerians seeking work in the UK are being exploited by unscrupulous agents who charge exorbitant fees for CoS and visa processing. With the UK’s care sector facing a significant shortage, scammers are exploiting this demand, leaving many victims out of pocket and with shattered dreams.

In one case, Nigerian-based fraudster Kayode Oyedare, in collaboration with travel agent Peniela Akintujoye, swindled victims out of millions of naira under the guise of securing UK care jobs. Similarly, a UK investigation revealed that some agencies charge applicants up to £20,000 for false promises of care job sponsorship.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has also warned against these scams, noting that over 1,000 Nigerians have been duped by fraudulent employment offers. As the exodus of Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad continues, these scams highlight the urgent need for prospective migrants to remain vigilant against fake offers.

The UK Home Office has yet to respond to inquiries about Ayuba’s activities.

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