Woman arrested after dressing up in wigs to 'take Life in the UK tests for others'
Woman arrested after dressing up in wigs to 'take Life in the UK tests for others'
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A north London woman has been arrested for allegedly using wigs and disguises to take the UK citizenship test for at least 14 people. The 61-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of fraudulently completing Life in the UK tests and allowing applicants to "gain an unfair advantage", the Home Office said.
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The woman, who has not been named, is alleged to have donned various wigs and disguises to pass herself off as the true applicants, both male and female, in an attempt to fraudulently obtain them leave to remain. Investigators raised an address in Enfield, north London on Monday, finding "several false documents and an array of wigs” alleged to have been used in the fraud.
The Home Office said officers acted on intelligence that between June 1, 2022 and August 14, 2023, the woman allegedly attended multiple test centres in the UK, disguising herself and doctoring ID documents to evade detection from authorities. Officials said 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".
Home Office immigration enforcement criminal and financial investigation inspector Phillip Parr said a "complex investigation" had "put a stop to this dangerous scheme". Mr Parr added: "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.
