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CoS Scam - Certificate of Sponsorship - How it Works
CoS Scam - Certificate of Sponsorship - How it Works

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) scam typically involves rogue agents or fake employers demanding thousands of pounds from foreign nationals to secure "guaranteed" UK work visas. Victims often pay high upfront fees for nonexistent jobs, or receive fake CoS documents that result in visa rejections or deportation.

How the CoS Scam Works

  • Selling Sponsorships: Agents charge thousands of pounds for a CoS, even though genuine employers are not legally allowed to sell sponsorships.
  • Fake Paperwork: Victims are provided with forged documents, replicas of real companies, or made-up reference numbers.
  • Phantom Employment: Some scammers provide a legitimate CoS but require you to return your "salary" to them, leaving you to work cash-in-hand illegally or pay the taxes yourself.

Verifying a Genuine CoS

  • Check the Register: Ensure your prospective employer holds a valid sponsor license by searching the official UK Government Sponsor Licence Register.
  • Never Pay for a CoS: A CoS is a digital document assigned directly through the Home Office Sponsor Management System (SMS); it is not something you "buy" or receive as a printed certificate.
  • Verify Through SMS: Confirm the assignment by verifying the details through the UK Home Office's official portals rather than an email attachment from a third-party agent.

Reporting Fraud

If you suspect you have been a victim of a UK visa or sponsorship scam, you should immediately report the crime to Action Fraud, the official UK national fraud and cyber crime reporting center.

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