Crisis Guide
Fraudulent UK Care Agency — What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
If you paid a UK care agency for a job that doesn’t exist or for a CoS that was never issued, report immediately to UK Action Fraud and the GLAA (Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority); compensation is rarely possible but reporting protects others.
Key fact
2024 Home Office crackdown revoked 100s of care-sector licences
Step-by-step
- 1Document everything: payment records, contracts, WhatsApp messages, emails, agency name and director names.
- 2Report to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk).
- 3Report to GLAA (Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority).
- 4Notify your country’s embassy in London for consular support.
- 5Pursue alternative legitimate sponsorship through verified NHS trusts or large care groups (Barchester, HC-One, Care UK).
Common pitfalls
- !Fees paid to fraudulent agents are almost never recoverable.
- !Many victims have been pressured to take loans — those are debt-recoverable; engage a UK money advisor.