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| The 'fixer', known only as Adil, has been exposed in an undercover sting for selling fake residency cards to immigrants in Birmingham – and charging up to £600 per ID card. He is pictured (left) handing over the fake biometric residence permit to the undercover reporter |
A 'fixer' who makes thousands of pounds selling fake IDs to illegal immigrants to help them stay living in Britain has been caught in an undercover sting.
The conman, known only as Adil, has been exposed for selling fake residency cards to immigrants in Birmingham – and charging up to £600 per ID card.
He boasted that he can supply 'top quality' fake versions of a biometric residence permit - which holds a migrant's name, date and place of birth, alongside a photograph, fingerprints and immigration status in the UK.
The cards, which are supposed to be issued only by the Home Office, allow an individual to stay, work or study in the UK and can be used as ID when opening a bank account, applying for work or benefits, or getting a domestic flight.
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| The undercover reporter visited Adil's home in Birmingham and asked if they could do business. Adil (above) got out some examples of his fake IDs and presented them to the poser |
Adil claims people travel from around the country to his 'very successful business' in which he charges hundreds of pounds to replicate the ID cards.
He has been exposed by investigative journalist Paul Connolly for a new Channel 5 documentary - Undercover Criminal: The Great British Fake Off.
It comes amid growing controversy around Britain's immigration policy, with the use of biometric visas put in the spotlight today when Prime Minister Theresa May said she wants India to take back overstayers based on biometric data alone, rather than piles of paperwork.
She said that in return the UK could make changes to the visa process, such as lowering fees. But Government officials stressed they would not alter the criteria needed to obtain a visa or commit to letting more people in.
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| Adil has been exposed by investigative journalist Paul Connolly (left, while confronting Adil) for a new Channel 5 documentary - Undercover Criminal: The Great British Fake Off |
Highlighting how easy it is for fraudsters to replicate the biometric documents in the UK, investigative journalist Connolly briefed a fellow undercover reporter who visited Adil's run-down office in Birmingham city centre pretending to be a contact of an illegal immigrant in need of some identification.
In footage of the sting, the undercover reporter - wearing a hidden camera - asks Adil for a fake biometric residency permit and the pair agree a price of £600.
Not suspecting he is being set up, Adil boasts about the 'top quality' of the fake IDs.
He says: 'Obviously you know looking at the backhand this card is not registered. The rest you will see, that it looks professional. That's the main thing.'
The undercover reporter then asks: 'You know how to do this?' but Adil responds: 'Yeah, don't worry about it'.
He then adds: 'You will see it. If you don't like it, don't pay.'
The reporter is asked to hand over a photograph and a date of birth, before the pair agree to meet at a later date.
A few days later, they meet in a car and Adil – dressed down in casual clothes – hands over the fake biometric residence permit.
He tells his 'client': 'There you, here are your keepsakes,' before boasting about the time and effort gone into replicating the Home Office card.
He says: 'This is what the money is all about. You see the monogram, it takes a lot of hard work on that.
'That's what the craftsmanship is all about.
'That's why we have a package, that's why we are very famous here for the work we do.'
The reporter is then seen handing over a large amount of cash – wads of £20 notes – to pay for the ID card.
In another clip of the documentary, which is to be aired tonight at 10pm, the reporter goes to visit the Birmingham office again but this times tells Adil he has 'something to show him in his car outside'.
Via - Dailymail
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