UK Work Visa Scams Targeting Bangladesh: Fake CoS and Fraudulent Job Offers

In early 2026, UK Home Office investigations uncovered agents in Bangladesh charging up to £13,000 for fabricated Certificates of Sponsorship. The applicants who bought them — typically professionals who could not find a genuine sponsored role — submitted these documents to UKVI believing the CoS was real. Most were refused. Many received 10-year immigration bans. Some faced criminal prosecution.

Bangladeshi professionals are among the highest-value targets for UK work visa fraud networks. Understanding exactly how these scams work is your best protection.

How the Fake CoS Scam Works

A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic record in the UK Home Office system, assigned by a licensed sponsor. You cannot see or verify the internal system record directly — only the sponsor can access it.

Scammers exploit this by:

1. Fabricating a CoS reference number. A realistic-looking CoS reference code is created, along with a forged confirmation document. The applicant submits this CoS number on the gov.uk application form. UKVI checks it against the actual Sponsorship Management System database and finds it does not exist or was not assigned to the applicant. Immediate refusal.

2. Using a real but illegally obtained CoS. Some networks bribe or collude with staff at legitimate UK businesses to assign CoS records to individuals they have never hired. These CoS records are real in the system but are issued for fake vacancies. UKVI's Genuine Vacancy test is designed specifically to catch this.

3. Selling access to a cancelled sponsor license. If a sponsor license has been revoked by the Home Office, its CoS records are invalid. Scammers may sell CoS documents tied to revoked licenses to applicants who do not know to check.

The "Placement Fee" Scam

Under UK law, it is illegal for a recruiter or employer to charge a job placement fee to the worker. Any agent, recruiter, or company in Bangladesh that asks you to pay money to secure a UK job offer or CoS is breaking UK law and almost certainly running a scam.

Fees that are charged illegally:

• "CoS reservation fees" (does not exist — there is no fee to reserve a CoS)
• "Visa processing fees" charged by a recruiter (UKVI fees are paid directly on gov.uk)
• "Registration fees" to join a scheme or a recruitment database

The British High Commission in Dhaka has issued explicit public warnings stating that there is no fee required to be placed in a UK job or to receive a work visa.

Red Flags to Check Before Accepting Any Offer

1. Verify the sponsor license immediately. The UK government maintains a public Register of Licensed Sponsors at gov.uk. Search for the exact company name. If they are not on the list, they cannot legally issue a CoS. Do not accept a job offer from a company that does not appear on this register.

2. Check the email domain. A genuine UK employer will communicate using their company domain (e.g. [email protected]). Any correspondence from a free email provider (@gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com) is a serious warning sign, even if the signature claims to be from a large NHS trust or IT firm.

3. Look up the company independently. Find the company on Companies House (companies.gov.uk) — all legitimate UK limited companies are registered there. Check that the company address matches what they told you. Look up their website and verify it is not a copy of a real company's site.

4. The interview was too easy. Genuine UK employers conduct rigorous technical or clinical interviews. If you were "hired" after a 10-minute WhatsApp call with no technical assessment, that is not normal for a legitimate sponsored role at the £41,700 salary threshold.

5. You were asked to pay anything. Legitimate employers do not ask candidates to pay for visa fees, CoS fees, or training registration. The employer bears the Immigration Skills Charge (£1,320 per year for large employers). They do not pass it on to you through deductions or upfront payments.

What Happens When UKVI Catches Fraud

UKVI specialist fraud units cross-reference CoS records against the Sponsorship Management System database. They also conduct employer site visits and contact sponsors directly. If a fabricated CoS is detected:

• The application is refused under paragraph 9.7.1 (False Representations)
• The applicant receives a 10-year ban from all UK visa categories
• The ban can affect visa applications to the US, Canada, and Australia, which often ask about prior refusals and bans
• In serious cases, criminal charges may follow

The consequence is irreversible for the applicant's immigration history, even if they were genuinely deceived and did not know the CoS was fraudulent. UKVI's position is that applicants have a duty to verify the legitimacy of the job offer and sponsor.

How to Find Genuine Sponsored Roles

Legitimate sponsorship opportunities are listed through:

• NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) — for healthcare roles
• Indeed UK and TotalJobs — use the "visa sponsorship available" filter, then verify the company on the sponsor register before applying
• LinkedIn — search for roles in the UK with sponsorship mentions; always verify the employer directly

If a recruiter in Bangladesh approaches you with an unsolicited UK job offer, treat it with heightened caution and verify every element before responding positively.

The Bangladesh to UK Skilled Worker Guide covers how to verify sponsor licenses, check employer legitimacy before accepting any offer, and what a genuine sponsored recruitment process looks like from first contact through CoS assignment.

See more United Kingdom guides →