In recent years, thousands of individuals from Kerala have sought job opportunities in the United Kingdom, lured by the promise of stable employment and a better future for their families. However, many have faced severe exploitation by unscrupulous recruiters, care homes, and middlemen, leaving them financially and emotionally devastated.

Arun George, not his real name, represents the plight of many Keralites who fell victim to fraudulent job schemes. Having saved £15,000 (approximately ₹15 lakh) over half his working life, he invested the amount in securing a care worker position for his wife in the UK through Alchita Care, a private domiciliary care home in Bradford. The payment was made via a local agent in Kerala, who assured the family of stable employment.

However, upon arriving in the UK in late 2023, the couple was met with broken promises. The care home offered only minimal unpaid training and granted George’s wife merely three days of work before cutting off communication. Unable to sustain themselves, they returned to Kerala, financially shattered.

George’s experience is not unique. Many Keralites have reported similar cases, where they paid enormous sums—ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹18 lakh—for visa sponsorships and job guarantees, only to be abandoned upon arrival in the UK. A woman, identified as Sridevi (name changed), revealed that she had paid £15,000 for a job through Alchita Care and an additional £3,000 for travel expenses. Struggling to survive, she now finds herself in a precarious situation, working erratic hours but receiving pay only for the time spent with patients—not for the long hours spent traveling between homes.

For many, returning to Kerala is not an option. Many borrowed money at high interest rates to fund their migration, and returning without a job would mean facing public shame and insurmountable debt.

Investigations have also revealed fraudulent activities by agents operating in both Kerala and the UK. One such agent, Henry Poulos of Grace International, allegedly swindled millions from aspiring job seekers, promising sponsorship letters and visa approvals that never materialized. Victims reported being sent on long journeys to New Delhi for fake visa appointments. The Kerala police have since sealed Poulos’ offices in Kothamangalam and are working with Interpol to locate him in the UK.

In another case, a victim named Binu, who previously earned a comfortable living with his wife in Israel, sold his assets and took out loans to finance their move to the UK. He now finds himself struggling to pay for his children’s education, having lost everything to fraudulent recruitment schemes.

The UK Home Office acknowledged in 2023 that care workers were being offered jobs under false pretenses, leading to an overhaul of visa regulations. In 2024, new rules were introduced, including increasing the minimum salary for care workers and prohibiting them from bringing dependents. These measures aim to reduce abuse but have come too late for those already affected.

Since July 2022, the UK government has revoked approximately 450 sponsorship licenses for care homes violating visa regulations. However, justice remains elusive for the exploited workers, as cross-border legal hurdles and expensive litigation make it nearly impossible for victims to reclaim their lost money.

Kerala police officials have assured that investigations are ongoing, and they are coordinating with international law enforcement agencies. However, victims remain skeptical, as many agents have already disappeared, leaving no trace of the millions they extracted from desperate job seekers.

The tragic reality of these fraudulent schemes highlights the need for stronger regulations, awareness campaigns, and international cooperation to prevent future exploitation. Meanwhile, for the hundreds of victims left in financial ruin, justice remains an uphill battle, with little hope of recovering their lost dreams.