The British High Commission in Kenya has issued a strong warning to Kenyans applying for UK visas after uncovering a surge in sophisticated scams targeting unsuspecting applicants.
In a statement released on Monday, November 17, the UK government revealed that fraudsters have intensified their schemes, using fake emails, websites and unsolicited phone calls to trick visa applicants into sharing money or personal details.
According to the advisory published on GOV.UK, scammers are now impersonating Home Office officials and Visa Application Centre staff — a tactic designed to intimidate applicants into paying false “processing fees” or revealing sensitive information.
Fake Job Offers, Forged Documents & Phone Call Threats
The British High Commission noted that these criminals often present themselves using professional language, forged letters, and job offers that appear authentic. Many victims are targeted because the scammers already know some of their personal information, making the scheme sound credible.
Common scam tactics include:
Fake job or sponsorship offers followed by demands for visa or recruitment fees
Impostors posing as Home Office officers, visiting homes or calling applicants to claim their applications have “issues”
Requests for deposits under the guise of “proof of financial capability”
The High Commission stressed that no legitimate employer or UK government official will ever ask an applicant to pay for a job or make a deposit as part of a visa process.
Students Among the Most Targeted
Students applying for study visas are reported to be among the most vulnerable, with some scammers claiming they can “speed up” applications or guarantee approval — promises the UK government says are outright lies.
How Kenyans Can Protect Themselves
The Commission advised Kenyans to be extra vigilant when receiving documents or communication linked to their visa applications, urging them to carefully inspect letterheads, branding, spelling and grammatical accuracy.
To avoid falling victim:
Only use official UK government websites, which always end in gov.uk
Verify email addresses before replying
Be suspicious of any offer that sounds too good to be true
Never send money to unknown individuals claiming to be UK officials
The advisory also emphasised that while applicants must provide proof of funds during the legitimate visa process, the Home Office never asks for money as proof.
Where to Report Suspected Fraud
Applicants in the UK have been urged to report suspected fraud cases to Action Fraud, the country’s national cybercrime reporting centre. Kenyans applying from abroad should report such cases to their local law enforcement agencies.