A gang of four people who were caught running bogus colleges and immigration service firms were jailed for 25 years. The bogus colleges scam was reported to have earned the criminal gang millions of pounds, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) reported.
The members of the bogus college scam were all arrested after a thorough investigation by both the UKBA’s Immigration Crime Team and the Met Police. The four-man criminal gang – 2 Chinese nationals and 2 Bangladeshi nationals – responded differently to the charges. Three of the men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 7 years in prison. The last man pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty following his trial at Croydon Crown Court. He was sentenced to only 4 years in prison.
Further charges included money laundering after more than £2.65 million in cash was found stuffed under their beds in their flat in Rotherhithe, South East London. For the money laundering, each member of the bogus college gang was sentenced to a further 4 years in prison.
The scam which the men run was a total one; whilst some semi-bogus colleges may offer some level of teaching, this bogus college was a shell, a complete front, offering no teaching or whatsoever, just bogus college degrees. After receiving payments from students, bogus college paperwork was produced, allowing their clients – probably unsuspecting, genuine students as well as those wishing to enter the UK and work illegally – to be granted visas under the UK’s Points Based System.
Having seen the profit potential of their bogus college, the criminal gang also set up a visa services front, which helped students to extend their visas once in the UK. They served students primarily from China and the Far East. Every application in which they assisted was based on bogus paperwork the criminal gang had produced themselves.
Tony Smith, UKBA Regional Director said in a statement:
“The tough sentences handed down today demonstrate our determination to tackle those who commit organised immigration crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. Those behind this conspiracy showed total disregard for the law, and their motives were purely financial.
“We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the police and other enforcement partners to identify criminal activity and stamp out any abuses of the system.”
Detective Superintendent Chris Foster, Head of the UKBA’s London and South East Immigration Crime Team said in a statement:
“The UK Border Agency, working with the Metropolitan Police, will continue to work in partnership to identify, dismantle and disrupt criminal networks who are involved in or benefiting from immigration crime.
“This was an extremely complex 18 month investigation that involved many thousands of pages of documentary evidence seized from a bogus college and a corrupt law firm.
“The amount of cash seized from underneath the bed of the defendants only highlights the attraction that immigration crime has for criminal gangs. A financial asset stripping investigation is ongoing.”
The UKBA also reported that it will prepare deportation proceedings against the bogus colleges gang, which will see the men return home after serving their prison sentences.
UK Border Agency
Home Office Department
London,England
I was enrolled and Paid l (£1500) course fees at Learning and Skills Academy Luton in Februry 2011 for Certificate in ESOL International April session. But Unfortunately Embassy refused my visa.My Refusal Letter is attached with my statement.Dear Sir if i am not wrong its not necessary if you are applying for England to tested your Result Cards.Sir after refusal i called college 50 times and email 100 times to give me other Cas than i will apply before 21st April.College ignored my phone calls and emails.College destroyed my future and as well my precious time.Last 2 n half months i called college again to get back my money.They didn’t reply me and not ready to given my money Back.Sir i am very poor boy.These type of colleges destroys student time and future. I have completed refund request form and sent to the College along with covering letter, unfortunately the College has not refunded the course fees deposit till now (11/06/2011). I did call to the College and they just ignore my call and reply email saying refund in process all the time. It;s been 3 months now i am waiting for refund and i am really disappointed they way the college treats to me.I hope here are many students waiting for Refund by this college.According to College Manual Refund Should be within 28 days of request of refund.but every day my Authorised person are going there but College do not given refund and asking for different prove,College already spoken to me about Refund and all Documents and authorisation but still i am waiting,
I would like to report to UKBA behalf and Metropolitan Police about College and what wich they wasted mine 4 month of Study period,
I would like to get paid of All expencive wich i paid to sent money and would like to ask college to pay me for my 4 month wasted of study.
I would like to request to UKBA to close these kind of College wich are wasting Students important time and monEY.
I get back my money SIr.Mr Sunil Jiwanmall is my education agent in London.And i gave the Authority to Mr Sunil to get back my money.I have never seen this statement in Ukba site.if student visa gona be refused college dont give them any fees.
Note:Dear Sir i need Justice
Muhammad Naeem
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Why ukba and metropolitian police didnt take any serious action again london college of business and management.
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Cases are pending I believe. Let me know if you want me to put you in touch with the relevant people.
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Hi,
These acts is unforgivable, I am a student from Malaysia not only that I work part-time I also pay my NI tax. What these bogus college and their agents are doing makes me sick. Because of them I suffered by the raising of fees, the reduce amount of work hours and so on. Not only me but also all the current and future student coming to the UK.
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There are still so many bogus colleges around and because of them genuine stundnts around the world suffer.
The main cause of this is not just the colleges but also the agents
work as the middle men between the colleges and students. They are
oisc registerd ( so called legal ) and make thousands out of these
bogus colleges. Also, they make fake enrollment letters for students
so that they can get exemption for the council tax. Also they create
fraud documents for a student who wish to apply for the work
visa. So,not just these colleges but these agents should also be
caught at the same time. Half of these oisc in wembley/harrow area are
dodgy. So many of these agents know each other well, so if you catch one
you catch so many at same time including hundreds of bogus colleges
which they work for.
—
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk
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Hi Mike
Whilst there are definitely networks of dodgy agents facilitating the fraud far outside the UK’s borders, not all agents are unscrupulous! There are many agents worldwide that provide a fantastic and valued service to students wishing to study in the UK.
OISC registration is also only valid for companies operating within the UK.
I agree with you that the dodgy agents need to be cleared out along with the colleges and I hope that the UK Border Agency will have them in their sights next.
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