Scam Intelligence · Not a Live Feed
Common UK Sponsorship Scam Patterns
Publicly reported UK sponsorship scams tend to follow a consistent, recurring pattern: an unsolicited job offer with sponsorship, an upfront payment request framed as a visa or CoS fee, and a forged Certificate of Sponsorship often using a real licensed employer's name. Care work, IT, and healthcare roles are the most frequently targeted sectors. This page describes general patterns reviewed periodically — it is not a real-time alert feed. Always verify independently before paying anything.
Common, recurring patterns
- Care sector targeting — fraudulent offers citing the Health and Care Worker visa's lower salary threshold to appear more attainable. See our care worker verification guide.
- IT and engineering roles — fake recruitment via social media or messaging apps, requesting "processing fees" before any interview takes place.
- Family/relocation package scams — bundled offers covering "visa, flights, and accommodation" requiring a large upfront deposit.
- Licensed-employer impersonation — using the real name and licence number of a genuine UKVI-registered company on a forged CoS.
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SponsorShield's blog covers these patterns in more depth, including Action Fraud's warning on fake job sponsorship scams and UKVI's enforcement action against care sector sponsors.
What to do if you recognise these patterns
Stop any payments immediately. Do not submit a visa application using a document you suspect is fraudulent. Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and run the document through SponsorShield's free check before taking any further action. See our full sponsorship scam guide for a complete breakdown of how this fraud typically unfolds.
SponsorShield is an independent verification support service. We are not OISC-regulated and do not provide immigration or legal advice. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to UKVI, GOV.UK, the Home Office, or any UK government body. This guide is general information only — always consult an OISC-registered immigration adviser before making immigration decisions. Never pay anyone for a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Data sources: UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors (gov.uk), Companies House public register, published Home Office salary thresholds. This page is informational only and does not reflect real-time UKVI data — always cross-check current status on gov.uk before relying on it.
Published by SponsorShield. Reviewed for verification accuracy against current UKVI and Companies House data. Not immigration or legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I report a sponsorship scam in the UK?+
Report to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, run by the City of London Police, on 0300 123 2040 or online at actionfraud.police.uk.
Is this a live scam monitoring feed?+
No. This page describes common, recurring scam patterns drawn from publicly reported cases and general fraud-reporting sources. It is reviewed periodically, not monitored in real time — it does not track individual incidents as they happen.
Does SponsorShield verify individual scam reports?+
No. We describe general patterns to help applicants recognise warning signs. For an independent check of your own document, use SponsorShield's free CoS scan or employer check.
Related Reading
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