By Ghazali Ibrahim
A growing scam involving fraudulent UK Certificates of Sponsorship (COS) has left numerous Nigerians heartbroken and financially devastated.
The scheme has seen many victims fall prey to scammers who promised to secure them job opportunities in the UK in exchange for large sums of money, only for the promised COS to never materialize.
Reports have emerged online starting from Tiktok where some individuals voiced out losing significant amounts of money, with some victims claiming to have handed over sums as high as £200,000, N15M, N20M, and even more, for the false promises.
In one particularly distressing case, a woman revealed that she sold her house to raise money for the scam, only to be left with nothing but silence—her calls and messages unanswered.
Despite the severe emotional and financial toll, many victims are too ashamed to speak out, with some even facing threats from the perpetrators.
One of the most heartbreaking accounts describes a woman who had been scammed out of over £200,000, a staggering amount that many victims will never be able to recover.
In response to the increasing number of people affected, a group of concerned Nigerians and victims of the scam are taking their fight to the UK government.
They are organizing a protest at the UK Home Office on Thursday, 20th February, demanding action against the perpetrators and the fraudulent COS system that has exploited vulnerable individuals. The protestors are hopeful that this collective action will prompt the UK government to take the matter seriously and hold the scammers accountable.
Yesterday, several victims and activists gathered at the BBC to raise awareness about the issue and ensure that the voices of those impacted are heard. There is growing concern that this scam not only targets hardworking Nigerians but also tarnishes the reputation of the entire nation, with innocent individuals bearing the brunt of the criminal actions of a few.
The law must catch up with the criminals behind this scam, and steps must be taken to prevent further exploitation.
Moreover, the protestors are demanding that the UK government take urgent action to safeguard the reputation of Nigeria and its citizens, ensuring that innocent individuals are not unjustly labeled due to the actions of these scammers.
