Hackers boast of visa data breach of 171,000 health workers, sparking police probe
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The hacker claimed to be selling details of people’s passports, work permits, UK visas, and bank statements belonging to healthcare workers. Police are investigating claims by hackers that they have stolen personal details of 171,000 foreign workers in the UK healthcare sector.
![[A hacker has reportedly claimed to have personal details for over 170,000 people from a Home Office visas and immigration database]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/15/09/iStock-1497901160.jpg)
In a post last week to a hacking forum, a user reportedly claimed that they had breached a Home Office visas and immigration database. The hacker claimed to be selling details of people’s passports, work permits, UK visas and bank statements belonging to healthcare workers, the industry magazine Health Service Journal reported.
![[Security minister Dan Jarvis said the government doesn’t know how much public bodies, like the NHS, have paid hackers because there is no mandatory reporting regime]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/15/09/PA-61784312.jpg)
Now the Home Office has confirmed that police are investigating the claims, saying there was “an incident affecting data held on a sponsor organisations system”. The NHS and social care providers are highly reliant on migrant workers coming to the UK to work in the healthcare industry, and will sponsor them for visas.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident affecting data held on a sponsor organisations system. While there is a live police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further”. Caroline Waterfield, director of development and employment at NHS Employers, said the reported hack was very worrying.
“Reports of this alleged breach will be causing concern to any of our health and social care staff who have their personal details on the Home Office visa system. It is vital that these allegations are investigated and either rejected or confirmed, promptly,” she said.
