What to Do if You Think Your Certificate of Sponsorship is Fake

Discovering your CoS might be fraudulent is stressful, but taking immediate, systematic action can protect you from visa refusal, financial loss, and immigration consequences. Follow this step-by-step guide to handle the situation effectively.

Act immediately if you notice these critical red flags:

You were asked to pay for the CoS or job placement
The sponsor is not on the official UK register of licensed sponsors
You received a PDF document instead of a CoS reference number via SMS
No proper interview was conducted before the job offer
The "employer" communicates only via personal email or WhatsApp

Immediate Actions: What to Do Right Now

1 Stop All Payments Immediately

Critical first step: Do not send any more money to the "sponsor," recruitment agent, or anyone claiming to process your visa.

Cancel any scheduled payments or transfers
Do not respond to threats or pressure tactics
Ignore claims that you'll "lose the opportunity" if you don't pay now

2 Do NOT Submit a Visa Application

If you haven't already applied for your visa, do not proceed with the application using a suspicious CoS.

Submitting a fraudulent CoS to UK immigration can result in a ban from the UK
You'll lose your visa application fee (£625-£1,423) and Immigration Health Surcharge (£624+ per year)
A refusal based on fraud has serious long-term immigration consequences

3 Verify the CoS Document Using AI Tools

Get an immediate technical assessment of the document's authenticity:

Check Your CoS Document Now →

AI verification analyzes metadata, formatting, and patterns to detect fraud indicators in seconds. This provides objective evidence to guide your next steps.

Verification Steps: Confirm Whether It's Actually Fake

Before taking drastic action, systematically verify your suspicions:

Can I Check if My Sponsor is Legitimate?

Yes. Follow these verification steps:

Check the sponsor register:
- Visit Register of Licensed Sponsors
- Download the latest register (updated monthly)
- Search for the company name and sponsor license number
- Verify the license type matches your visa category
Verify company legitimacy:
- Check Companies House for company registration
- Review the company website for professional presence
- Search for employee reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed
- Verify the office address is real (use Google Street View)
Contact the company directly:
- Find official contact details from their website (not details provided in the CoS)
- Call their main office number during business hours
- Ask to speak to HR or recruitment team
- Inquire whether they offered you a position and assigned a CoS

If the CoS is Confirmed Fake: Action Plan

If verification confirms the CoS is fraudulent, follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Cease All Communication with the Scammer

Block all phone numbers and email addresses used by the scammer
Do not respond to messages, even if they threaten or pressure you
Do not engage in negotiations or attempts to "get your money back"
Save all correspondence as evidence before blocking

Step 2: Document Everything

Collect and organize all evidence of the fraud:

Communications: Emails, WhatsApp messages, text messages, call logs
Documents: Job offer letter, fake CoS, contracts, receipts
Payment records: Bank transfers, Western Union receipts, payment confirmations
Website screenshots: Job postings, recruitment agency websites, social media profiles
Timeline: Write a chronological account of events

Step 3: Report the Fraud to Authorities

Where to Report CoS Fraud:

Action Fraud (UK): www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
Your local police: If you're outside the UK, report to local police in your country
Your bank: Report if you paid by card or bank transfer—you may be able to recover funds
Western Union/MoneyGram: Report if you used money transfer services (though recovery is unlikely)

Step 4: Attempt Financial Recovery

Depending on how you paid, you may be able to recover some or all of your money:

Credit card payments: Contact your card issuer immediately to dispute the charges (chargeback)
Bank transfer: Contact your bank urgently—same-day reporting may allow them to stop the transfer
PayPal: File a dispute through PayPal's resolution center within 180 days
Western Union/MoneyGram: Report immediately, though recovery is rare once collected
Cryptocurrency: Unfortunately, crypto payments are almost impossible to recover

Time-sensitive: Financial recovery attempts are most successful when reported within 24-48 hours. Act immediately.

Step 5: Seek Professional Immigration Advice

Consult a regulated immigration professional about your situation:

Find advisors registered with OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner)
Explain the situation honestly and show all documentation
Ask about legitimate pathways to UK employment
Confirm whether this incident affects future visa applications

Step 6: Warn Others

Help prevent others from falling victim to the same scam:

Share your experience (anonymously if preferred) on UK visa forums
Report the scam to the job board where you found the listing (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.)
Post warnings in relevant Facebook groups or community forums
Report fake social media profiles to the platform

What If I've Already Submitted My Visa Application?

If you submitted a visa application using a CoS you now suspect is fake:

Withdraw your application immediately by contacting UKVI
Explain the situation honestly to the visa decision-maker
Provide evidence you were defrauded (communications, payments)
Consult an immigration solicitor urgently about mitigating consequences
Do not attend your visa appointment if you haven't yet withdrawn

Important: Being a victim of fraud is different from knowingly submitting false documents. Honest disclosure and immediate withdrawal show good faith and can prevent serious immigration consequences.

How Can I Verify My Next CoS is Genuine?

When you receive another CoS opportunity, protect yourself by:

Verify the sponsor before applying: Check the official register first
Never pay for CoS: Legitimate employers never charge employees
Insist on proper interviews: Real employers conduct thorough recruitment processes
Use AI verification: Check all CoS documents with our AI tool
Verify independently: Contact the company through their official website
Get professional advice: Have a regulated advisor review before applying

Emotional Support and Moving Forward

Being scammed is traumatic. Remember:

You are not alone—thousands fall victim to these sophisticated scams annually
Being scammed does not make you stupid or naive
Legitimate UK employment opportunities do exist
Taking action now protects you and helps others

Next steps: Focus on legitimate pathways to UK employment. Consider using established recruitment agencies, checking only verified sponsors on the official register, and always using AI verification before proceeding with any CoS.

Quick Reference: Action Checklist

If You Suspect Your CoS is Fake:

☐ Stop all payments immediately
☐ Do not submit visa application
☐ Run AI verification check
☐ Verify sponsor on official register
☐ Contact company independently
☐ Cease communication with scammer
☐ Document all evidence
☐ Report to Action Fraud
☐ Contact your bank/payment provider
☐ Consult immigration advisor
☐ Warn others about the scam

Verify Your CoS Document Now →