Fraud suspect, 61, 'used wigs and disguises' to take citizenship tests for others, Home Office says
False documents and "an array of wigs" the woman was accused of using in the scheme were seized at an address in north London when she was arrested.
Monday 27 January 2025 23:09, UK
A woman in her 60s has been arrested for allegedly using an "array of wigs" and other disguises to pose as at least 14 other people to help them pass UK citizenship tests.
The 61-year-old, who has not been named, helped men and women "gain an unfair advantage" in the Life in the UK Test, the Home Office said.
She is accused of wearing various wigs and disguises to pass herself off as the true applicants, in an attempt to dishonestly obtain them leave to remain in the UK.
Anyone seeking to stay in the country indefinitely or naturalisation as a British citizen must take the test.
She was arrested at an address in Enfield, north London on Monday where "several false documents and an array of wigs alleged to have been used in the fraudulent scheme" were seized.
It is alleged that between June 2022 and August the following year, the woman went to multiple UK test centres, disguising herself and doctoring ID documents to evade detection.
Fraudsters completing the test for others could "lead to people wrongly being granted the right to remain in the country without the proper due diligence", the Home Office said.
Immigration enforcement criminal and financial investigation inspector Phillip Parr said a "complex investigation" had "put a stop to this dangerous scheme".
"This individual is believed to have orchestrated a pre-meditated plan to avoid detection, meticulously selecting disguises and test centre locations across the country to evade the authorities.
"As with many criminals who commit this type of crime, we believe her motive was financial gain," he said.
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The Home Office said the woman remains in custody.
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The Life in the UK Test consists of 24 questions aimed at "proving the applicant has sufficient knowledge of British values, history, and society", the Home Office said.