Fraudsters are exploiting a government return program for migrants to scam asylum seekers, the British newspaper The Guardian reported on Saturday (March 16).

According to The Guardian, scammers are employing two schemes. One involves scammers attempting to exploit individuals by falsely promising assistance in exchange for a 3,000 pounds government payment.

Another scheme involves Britain's 3,000 pounds incentive to encourage refused asylum seekers to voluntarily return to Rwanda.

Migrants are reportedly receiving calls posing as offers from Migrant Help, a charity assisting asylum seekers.

Migrant Help took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the telephone calls claiming to be made by the organization.

Immigration lawyer Sonia Lenegan told The Guardian that the scams raised critical questions about the source of the phone numbers used by scammers.

The Home Office has condemned these fraudulent activities, describing them as cruel attempts to deceive vulnerable people.

Reward to relocate

The UK government is considering a plan to offer failed asylum seekers up to 3,000 pounds to relocate to Rwanda, as part of a broader agreement with the country, Al Jazeera reported last week (March 13).

This plan is meant to address a backlog of asylum cases where individuals have been refused the right to stay but cannot be returned to unsafe countries.

Unlike the earlier controversial "Rwanda bill" proposing forced deportations, this plan focuses on voluntary relocation and extends existing policies offering financial assistance for voluntary returns. The Home Office defends Rwanda as a safe third country, despite concerns raised by rights groups regarding political oppression.

Rejected asylum seekers, unable to work legally in the UK, may find employment opportunities in Rwanda and receive five years of additional support under the proposed plan.

As legal challenges continue to mount against the government's deportation plans, including the previously ruled unlawful "Rwanda bill," the proposed relocation scheme faces scrutiny over its compliance with British and international human rights laws.

Data from the Home Office indicates that some 19,000 people were removed voluntarily from the UK in the past year. Under the proposed initiative, people will receive the money if they agree to live in Rwanda, which the UK government considers to be a safe third country despite reports from rights groups on political oppression.

Also read: UK: Rwanda bill suffers more parliamentary defeats and changes -