This week, Starmer banned recruitment of overseas care workers. The govt recognised the system used to bring them into the country was rife with abuse, as workers here who made it to the UK were exploited. But the scamming issue appears to have passed the govt by. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature... - ThreadSky

lucygjwhite.bsky.social • 15 days ago

This week, Starmer banned recruitment of overseas care workers. The govt recognised the system used to bring them into the country was rife with abuse, as workers here who made it to the UK were exploited. But the scamming issue appears to have passed the govt by. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-16/uk-visa-scams-squeeze-millions-from-would-be-care-workers?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc0NzM2ODE5NywiZXhwIjoxNzQ3OTcyOTk3LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTV0M1VUVUMEcxS1cwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwRjUwRTk4NTlCMzk0MDI1QjBBMjMyRDAwQUUwNDI1QSJ9.rQaL0jcu53Q5xTM2gBRunI4U78w5y-uyyq-jDZEnRvE

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lucygjwhite.bsky.social•15 days ago

They have no idea how widespread it is. Starmer’s ban should help reduce future scams. But what of people who’ve already fallen victim? Who’s going after the criminals? Desperation is causing some to take matters into their own hands, with threats and violence. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-16/uk-visa-scams-squeeze-millions-from-would-be-care-workers?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc0NzM2ODE5NywiZXhwIjoxNzQ3OTcyOTk3LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTV0M1VUVUMEcxS1cwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwRjUwRTk4NTlCMzk0MDI1QjBBMjMyRDAwQUUwNDI1QSJ9.rQaL0jcu53Q5xTM2gBRunI4U78w5y-uyyq-jDZEnRvE

lucygjwhite.bsky.social•15 days ago

Scammers, meanwhile, are driving Range Rovers, buying property, investing. They’ve made their money, and feel confident they won’t get caught. Mr Brown has vowed to keep tracking them down, but there’s only so much he can do. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-16/uk-visa-scams-squeeze-millions-from-would-be-care-workers?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc0NzM2ODE5NywiZXhwIjoxNzQ3OTcyOTk3LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTV0M1VUVUMEcxS1cwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwRjUwRTk4NTlCMzk0MDI1QjBBMjMyRDAwQUUwNDI1QSJ9.rQaL0jcu53Q5xTM2gBRunI4U78w5y-uyyq-jDZEnRvE

lucygjwhite.bsky.social•15 days ago

To be clear: There are so many problems. A migration system which was badly thought-out, involved vulnerable people and was essentially unregulated. An underfunded social care sector which incentivises exploitation. Overworked police who don’t have time/resources to investigate.

lucygjwhite.bsky.social•15 days ago

What would I like to see? An effort led by the Home Office/National Crime Agency to investigate these cases, trace the money involved and return it to victims. A recognition that the UK has let down thousands of would-be migrants who just wanted to work. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-16/uk-visa-scams-squeeze-millions-from-would-be-care-workers?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc0NzM2ODE5NywiZXhwIjoxNzQ3OTcyOTk3LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTV0M1VUVUMEcxS1cwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwRjUwRTk4NTlCMzk0MDI1QjBBMjMyRDAwQUUwNDI1QSJ9.rQaL0jcu53Q5xTM2gBRunI4U78w5y-uyyq-jDZEnRvE

heatcb.bsky.social•15 days ago

I’ve seen adverts in Kenya from the Canadian Govt warning local people here about these scams (this must not be unique to the U.K.). It would be good to the see the U.K. govt do similar. And ofc crack down on the wicked people running these scams.

qgty.bsky.social•15 days ago

If we need care workers (we do) then applying centrally, prob via the UK embassy in home country, being placed on a Central register and apply for jobs then seems much safer - any company route is going to get people exploited

telephonebooth.bsky.social•15 days ago

great reporting, govt unaware of creating whole markets for abuse, too many default loopholes, scammers best soft target

winter02.bsky.social•15 days ago

My understanding of the White Paper was that it aims to strip out the abuse of vulnerable foreign workers who have been scammed by the recruitment agencies.

lucygjwhite.bsky.social•15 days ago

The white paper will stop new overseas recruitment so yes, the opportunity for fresh scams should be minimised. & it aims to help workers who are here, being exploited, to find a better employer, though not yet clear how. But it does nothing for those who’ve been scammed and never made it to the UK.

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