Thousands of aspiring care workers from countries like India, Nigeria, and the Philippines dream of securing a better future in the UK, especially with the ongoing demand for health and social care professionals.

However, many of them fall victim to fraudulent recruitment schemes run by unscrupulous care agencies and middlemen who demand exorbitant fees for sponsorships—only to leave workers stranded with little to no work upon arrival.

False Promises, Lost Dreams

Rahul Joseph (not his real name) spent half of his life savings—£15,000 ($19,460)—to secure a UK care worker visa for his wife through Alchita Care, a private domiciliary care agency in Bradford.

After paying the fee through a local recruitment agent in Kerala, they arrived in the UK in late 2023, hopeful for a fresh start. However, the promised job never materialised.

The agency kept stalling, offering only a few unpaid training sessions before assigning his wife just three days of actual work. With no sustainable income, the couple had no choice but to return to India, financially ruined.

Rahul believes he was scammed and says this ordeal has set him back at least a decade financially.

Surviving on Crumbs in the UK

Another victim, Priya (also a pseudonym), paid £15,000 for her care worker visa sponsorship and an additional £3,000 for travel expenses. Trapped in the UK without stable work, she now struggles to afford basic necessities.

“I survive on bread and milk from charity shops,” she says. Her job requires her to be on call from 4 AM to 9 PM, driving from one patient’s home to another, yet she is only paid for the few hours she is actively with patients.

For thousands of care workers, this is a harsh reality. Many arrive in the UK with high expectations, only to find themselves exploited, underpaid, or entirely jobless.

A Widespread Scam with No Justice in Sight

Labour Party member and Mayor of Cambridge, Baiju Thittala, told the BBC that he has personally represented at least ten such victims over the past three years. However, seeking justice is nearly impossible. Many victims pay fees to agencies operating outside their home countries, making legal action difficult due to jurisdiction issues.

Additionally, lawyers in the UK are expensive, and many affected workers—already in deep debt—cannot afford legal representation.

It is estimated that between 1,000 and 2,000 migrant care workers from Kerala alone have fallen victim to these fraudulent schemes. In some cases, people lost money before even leaving their home countries.

One group of 30 victims in Kothamangalam, Kerala, collectively lost millions after paying an agent named Henry Poulos, who ran Grace International in both the UK and India. Many were given fake sponsorship letters, and some were even tricked into travelling 2,500 km to Delhi for non-existent visa appointments.

Shilpa, another victim, took out a bank loan with a 13% interest rate to pay Poulos, believing she was securing a future for her three daughters. Now, she is struggling to afford their school fees.

Meanwhile, Binu, who left a comfortable £1,500-a-month job in Israel, was left devastated. “I have lost everything,” he said.

Government Response and Policy Changes

The UK government acknowledged last year that there was “clear evidence” of care workers being recruited under false pretences and paid below the minimum wage. In response, stricter visa regulations were introduced in 2024. These included:
• Raising the minimum salary threshold to reduce exploitation.
• Banning care workers from bringing dependents, making it less attractive for families.
• Revoking sponsor licences—since July 2022, over 450 care sector licences have been revoked.
• Prohibiting employers from charging sponsorship fees to foreign workers.

Authorities in Kerala have also launched investigations into fraudulent recruiters, with police sealing Poulos’ local offices and seeking international cooperation to apprehend offenders.

However, justice remains elusive for many victims, who continue to grapple with financial ruin and shattered dreams.

The Need for Stricter Regulations

While policy changes are a step forward, more needs to be done to prevent further exploitation of migrant care workers. Stronger enforcement of recruitment laws, better oversight of care agencies, and accessible legal support for victims are crucial.

Until then, many hopeful workers will continue to fall prey to unscrupulous recruiters, losing their savings and their dreams in the process.

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This article is based on an investigation by the BBC.