A major international visa fraud has been uncovered in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, where a visa consultant along with his 33 clients and several other individuals has allegedly been cheated of nearly ₹3.4 crore in a fake UK work permit scheme. The accused reportedly posed as highly connected professionals and used fabricated documents to project legitimacy before disappearing with the funds.
According to the complaint, a 31-year-old visa consultant operating from Kudasan had been running his firm since 2018 and was handling multiple immigration cases. The fraud began in 2022 when he came into contact with an individual who introduced himself as being involved in foreign education loan services. This person later introduced another associate who claimed to have strong links in the United Kingdom job market.
The accused allegedly assured that they could arrange UK work permits in sectors such as warehousing, healthcare, and hospitality. Trusting these claims, the consultant began forwarding applications of his clients from July 2025 onwards. Payments were made through a mix of bank transfers and cash transactions, routed into multiple accounts linked to different associates.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
Forged CoS papers and vanished contacts
As months passed, visa approvals did not materialize. When questioned, the accused allegedly attempted to maintain confidence by sharing forged Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) through WhatsApp. These documents were presented as official UK employer sponsorship letters, convincing enough to delay suspicion for some time.
However, by October 2025, repeated delays and inconsistencies began raising doubts. When the consultant pressed for clarity, the accused allegedly provided evasive responses and cited procedural delays. Eventually, they claimed to be abroad and cut off communication entirely.
Further verification revealed that the CoS documents were completely fake. UK-based companies later confirmed that no such applications had been processed under the names provided. This led to the exposure of a broader fraud involving at least 33 clients whose documents and payments had been misused.
Scale of the scam and financial trail
The complainant stated that a total of ₹3.4 crore was transferred in connection with the scheme, including ₹1.7 crore sent to one accused and ₹1.6 crore to another. All supporting bank statements and forged documents have been submitted to authorities for investigation.
Police have registered a case and launched a detailed probe into the financial trail, digital communications, and transaction records. Preliminary findings suggest that the accused operated as part of a structured network, potentially spanning multiple states, with coordinated use of fake identities and fabricated documentation.
Investigators are now examining whether similar visa frauds have been carried out in other regions, including possible links between agents operating in different cities. Cyber forensic teams have been deployed to trace money flows across bank accounts and digital wallets used in the transactions.
Authorities’ warning and public awareness
Authorities believe the scam was carefully planned, relying on social trust, professional impersonation, and staged documentation to create a sense of authenticity. The accused reportedly used social media platforms and personal referrals to identify potential targets and expand their network.
As per a report referenced in The Tribune, such visa frauds have been increasingly using fake sponsorship certificates and digital manipulation techniques to mislead both consultants and applicants, making detection difficult until financial losses become significant.
Officials have urged the public to verify all overseas job offers through authorized immigration channels and registered recruitment agencies. They also warned that genuine UK work permits are issued only through verified sponsorship systems and official government-approved processes.
Experts note that these scams typically operate by first building trust, then introducing fabricated success documentation, and finally disappearing once substantial funds have been collected. The present case reflects a similar pattern, indicating a well-organized and possibly expanding fraud network.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to uncover further financial links and possibly additional victims in the coming weeks as the probe into this international visa scam continues.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
