The UK Border Force has issued a stark warning. A scam targeting war refugees seeking education in Finland is now drawing in British students. The scheme, uncovered by the National Crime Agency, offers fake college placements and visas. Refugees from conflict zones are the primary targets, but British students are being caught in the net.
Immigration sources confirm that the operation is sophisticated. Fake websites, forged acceptance letters, and phoney tuition payments are involved. The perpetrators are unknown, possibly operating from outside the EU.
The Home Office is scrambling. They fear this scam could undermine trust in genuine student visa routes. A senior official said, “Where there is chaos, there are predators. These refugees need protection, not exploitation.”
Labour MPs are demanding a Commons statement. They want to know how the scam slipped through. One backbencher told me, “It’s a scandal. The Home Office is too slow. Refugees are being duped.”
The number of victims is unclear. But sources suggest it runs into the hundreds. Some have already travelled to Finland, only to find their accommodation nonexistent. The NCA is working with Finnish police.
This is a developing story. Expect more twists. I’ll be watching the Westminster lobby for leaks. A cabinet source hinted at a “major tightening” of visa checks. Watch this space.
