Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry

Bogus Websites, Staged Protests and Pretended Atheists: Unveiling the Asylum Fraud Network

The Undercover Asylum Coach

Hidden within the maze of the UK’s immigration system is a network of individuals and consultants orchestrating elaborate scams to secure asylum. These tactics range from fabricating online content to staging public demonstrations, all aimed at making fake claims appear legitimate. A recent undercover investigation revealed how migrants are taught to present themselves as vulnerable to the Home Office, often through deceptive methods. In east London, a reporter posing as a Bangladeshi student was guided by Zahid Hasan Akhand, a self-proclaimed barrister, through the process of crafting a false asylum narrative.

Fabricating Identity for Asylum

According to Akhand, there are three primary pathways to asylum: persecution for sexual orientation, religious convictions, or political activism. He assured the reporter that he could manage the legal aspects, while the individual would need to choose their story. “You’ll decide whether to go the atheist route or the gay route,” he explained, promising a detailed plan once the decision was made. The fee for legal support was £1,500, but additional costs could arise for evidence, ranging from £2,000 to £3,000 depending on the chosen claim.

“Religious clerics will start making comments threatening to kill you. Then you will see that your evidence has been created,” Akhand said, describing how fabricated social media posts could be used to bolster a claim of atheism.

For a fake religious claim, the reporter would need to generate posts attacking Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. Akhand suggested using AI tools like ChatGPT to draft such content, then linking it to UK and Bangladeshi atheist groups. “This is not the age of posts anymore, it is the age of live videos,” he added, emphasizing the need for real-time engagement during interviews. The undercover reporter was also encouraged to attend events for former Muslims, where they could publicly assert their new beliefs.

Pretending to Be Gay: A Simpler Strategy

Gay asylum claims were deemed more straightforward, Akhand claimed. “They won’t dig too deep into your past,” he said, explaining that fabricated evidence—like club memberships and a fake partner—could easily be presented. The partner would provide a letter affirming the relationship, making the claim seem authentic. “If you go to those associations, you won’t get caught out,” he noted, implying that most attendees were not genuinely LGBTQ+.

“Everyone is being successful, God willing,” Akhand replied when asked about cases where the claimant wasn’t truly gay or atheist. “If you listen and get the evidence arranged properly, it will be successful.”

Political asylum, he admitted, required more work. It involved building a case against the applicant’s home country, which could be challenging. However, Akhand claimed he could “connect you with people who do these things,” ensuring all bases were covered. The scheme relies on the Home Office’s limited ability to verify claims, leaving room for deception. As Akhand qualified in 2022, his lack of a practicing licence only underscores the informal yet effective nature of this fraud network.