Brits who took in Ukrainian refugees demand tougher background checks after falling victim to fraud and theft
- EXCLUSIVE: Brits who took in Ukranians want tougher background checks
- Read more: Ukrainian guest reported British host for making her do the dishes
A number of Brits who opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees are calling for tougher background checks after allegedly falling victim to fraud and theft at the hands of their guests.
Hosts fear a small minority are ‘taking advantage’ of the British welfare system by claiming Universal Credit and other benefits despite many being wealthy in their own right – with claims they are splashing out on shopping trips to Harrods, Botox injections and Apple products while being under no obligation to contribute to household bills.
Just under 170,000 Ukrainians have been taken in by British families through the Homes for Ukraine scheme since Vladimir Putin launched his illegal war on their country last February.
But the programme has been fraught with issues, with scores of host-guest relationships breaking down due to deep cultural differences and the financial strain placed on homeowners amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
The Brits who have been let down by the process have now formed an online community to offer each other support.
Among them are victims of alleged theft and fraud and according to one forum leader Emma Nishigaki, 53, more than a dozen cuckolded wives, whose husbands’ ‘heads have been turned’ by their younger female guests.
Emma Nishigaki, 53, told MailOnline today that she discovered her passport had been used on up to 22 Homes for Ukraine or other visa applications without her knowledge (Pictured right, Ms Nishigaki, while left, her ‘fabulous’ Ukrainian guest Yulia)
Tour travel companies are now offering coach trips back to Ukraine so they can ‘enjoy their Easter holidays at home’. Milos-Tur (pictured) is offering such trips for just £55 (60Eur), with coaches departing for Ukraine weekly and serving passengers champagne and croissants
British husbands are ‘having their heads turned’ by young female Ukrainian guests, host claims
A British host on the Homes for Ukraine scheme claims she knows of more than a dozen wives whose husbands have had affairs with the Ukrainian women they have opened up their homes too.
Emma Nishigaki, 53, told MailOnline this week that ‘at least 17’ wives have been ‘cuckolded’ after agreeing to the resettlement process.
Ms Nishigaki runs a hundreds-strong Facebook group for hosts who have had a negative experience with the refugee scheme.
‘These men are having their heads turned by these young women and families have been destroyed,’ she said.
One woman in a private Facebook run by Ms Nishigaki group revealed how she was forced to divorce her partner after he kept sneaking off with their guest for secret rendezvous at the pub.
She claimed that when she asked to read his messages to her he deleted them all.
When approached by the MailOnline, the mother-of-two said she was still trying to ‘digest the situation’ after throwing her husband out of the house, adding that she did not wish to discuss it further.
Ukrainians arriving to Britain as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme are eligible to live and work here – and claim benefits – from day one.
When applying for state help, they must themselves declare any property they own in Ukraine, although it is unlikely to be taken account.
They will receive some level of support from Universal Credit if their declared savings are under £16,000, and full support if they are less than £6,000. They will also continue to be eligible for childcare and housing support if they go on to get a job, providing their savings remain under £16,000.
Those who have reached the retirement age can also claim around £200 per week in pension credit, although those with more than £10,000 in declared savings will see their entitlement reduced.
But some British hosts believe a number of Ukrainians are not declaring how much money they truly have.
In a private Facebook group for fed-up hosts, accessed by MailOnline, one Briton uploaded a picture of two Apple AirPod cases and an Apple bag, writing: ‘This is what I found in the rubbish bag they left behind. No words. £189 each.’ She claimed her guests had been claiming Universal Credit.
Another fumed: ‘This week’s purchases from our ”poor” Ukraine guest… Harrods bear and baby bits (for friend’s baby when she returns to Ukraine next month)… and some Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses costing £200+… an essential item for visiting a war torn country I guess.’
Meanwhile multiple Ukrainian-run beauty companies, some set up within the last few months, are posting on sponsor pages offering Botox and permanent make-up treatments – which can cost up to hundreds of pounds per visit.
It comes amid concerns that some Ukrainians are continuing to receive benefits from EU countries after returning home or even after moving to Britain.
Poland recently discovered many had arrived into the country purely to sign up for handouts before immediately going back, forcing the government to bring in tougher measures.
According to Polish newspaper Obserwator Gospodarczy, new rules brought in last year mean Ukrainians must now appear in person to claim their benefits and will stop receiving them if they leave the country for more than 30 days.
One host shared a picture of two Apple AirPod cases and an Apple bag online (pictured), writing: ‘This is what I found in the rubbish bag they left behind. No words. £189 each.’ She claimed her guests had been receiving Universal Credit
One host fumed: ‘This week’s purchases from poor Ukraine guest… Harrods bear and baby bits (for friend’s baby when she returns to Ukraine next month)… and some Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses costing £200+… an essential item for visiting a war torn country I guess.’
Multiple Ukrainian-run beauty companies, some set up within the last few months, are posting on sponsor pages offering Botox and permanent make-up treatments – which can cost hundreds of pounds per visit (Pictured: Patient receiving treatment at the Kingdom of Cosmetology clinic, founded by a Ukrainian woman in November)
British host discovers her former Ukrainian guest is using pictures of her home to promote a cleaning business
A British woman this week said she was left stunned when she stumbled on pictures of her home being used to promote a cleaning business set up by her former Ukrainian guest.
One of the photos used to promote the cleaning business
She said: ‘Six months since our guests left, I’m scrolling through Instagram and happened to see she had created a page for cleaning services – a joke on so many levels – the last week she was here she asked how to use the mop.
‘A month ago she texted an acquaintance to ask how to clean a fridge. They lived with us for seven months.’
The host, who asked not to be named, said the photos used for the company were taken after she had cleaned the house herself, while her host had returned to Ukraine for a week.
She added: ‘I’m so angry that she has sneakily taken photos of our house and never ever cleaned it when she was here.’
From January this year, they will also have to reimburse half of their maintenance benefits to the state and be fully self-sufficient by June.
The government said since tougher rules were brought in, including spot checks on their reported addresses, more than 80,000 Ukrainians have been suspended from the benefits programme.
Britain appears to be taking note after the Department for Levelling Up last week issued official guidance for hosts to report their guests – and vice versa – for visa, benefit and immigration fraud as well as any other type of criminal activity.
It comes after a major report in January found the passport details of genuine hosts had been used on multiple visa applications.
Emma Nishigaki, 53, told MailOnline today that she discovered her passport had been used for up to 22 visa applications without her knowledge.
The maths tutor claimed she had been liaising with what she thought was a Ukrainian woman named Tatiana, who she agreed to sponsor before being quickly blocked after sharing her passport details and address – which are required by Ukrainians applying for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Ms Nishigaki runs the hundreds-strong Facebook group for fed-up British hosts who have had negative experiences and who she says are scared to speak out over fears they will be branded xenophobic.
The mother said there are no doubt Ukrainians who genuinely need help, particularly from the east of the country where the fighting is the strongest.
But she believes the most poor, destitute and in danger Ukrainians struggle to get out of the country – while many of those who do are ‘opportunist’ migrants from wealthier areas in the west – like Kyiv – who have long wanted to make the move to Britain.
According to Statista, as of March, the UK was the fifth most chosen country for Ukrainian refugees, after Russia, Poland, Germany and Czechia.
It comes as dozens of Ukrainians looking for British sponsors on social media have already found safe haven in other EU countries, but say they want to move to the UK because it has been their ‘dream’ to live there.
One 22-year-old woman who says she has been living and working in Switzerland since March 2022 this week said she was looking for a sponsor in the UK because ‘there are a lot of opportunities’ there, adding: ‘But I need a little help to get started, i.e. with housing, as it is the most expensive and at first I will not be able to provide it myself.’
In another sponsor request, a 19-year-old male from Kyiv, who is forbidden from leaving his country due to being of fighting age, admitted he planned to use his disabled grandfather to get permission to travel.
Ms Nishigaki (pictured) runs a hundreds-strong Facebook group for fed-up British hosts who have had negative experiences and who she says are scared to speak out over fears they will be branded xenophobic
MailOnline has unearthed multiple social media posts (pictured) offering to provide faked documents to Ukrainians arriving in Britain, including driving licences and phony DVLA exam certificates
Another post on a Facebook group called Scotland For Ukraine pictured dozens of boxes of what appeared to be illegally imported cigarettes from the war-torn country, with a caption in Ukrainian urging interested buyers to message the seller directly
A holiday company offers coach trips back to Ukraine every week
READ MORE: Ukrainian refugee reported mother who took her in to the POLICE for making her do the dishes – before detectives opened a ‘modern slavery’ investigation and grilled her for hours
Hannah Debenham, 42, of Uckfield, East Sussex, was placed under investigation for two months following the accusation, before the case was dropped when no supporting evidence was found
He said he wanted to leave his wheelchair-bound relative in Poland before coming to Britain ‘to find a job and make financial help to my parents.’ Ukraine allows people with disabled relatives to accompany them out of the country.
Meanwhile tour travel companies in Britain are this month offering coach trips back to Ukraine so they can ‘enjoy their Easter holidays at home’.
Milos-Tur is offering such trips for just £55 (60Eur), with coaches departing for Ukraine weekly, offering passengers champagne and croissants.
The most recent trip left last Sunday, according to a post on the company’s Facebook profile, which read: ‘Come home with us for the Easter holidays!’
MailOnline has contacted the company for comment.
Ms Nishigaki told MailOnline: ‘One mother and daughter I had were lovely but filthy rich and claiming every benefit going, including free school uniforms, bikes, laptops, universal credit… they returned to Odessa when the father bought a house there with cash.
‘Make no mistake, I do not object to Ukrainians coming to Britain to escape the war, but I do object to them living off the state when they don’t need to.’
Ms Nishigaki added: ‘The UK government’s biggest mistake was not carrying out tougher financial background checks.
‘Look at the migrants coming on boats… while I don’t agree with how they are coming here, they have to go through so many hoops to be able to stay and get benefits, but Ukrainians get an immediate free ride with practically no questions asked.’
It comes after a UK report in January entitled On the frontline: London councils’ responses to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, found Ukrainians were paying large sums of money to scammers promising visas and accommodation, with one family handing over a staggering £55,000.
It also found the Home Office had often granted visas before sponsors had been properly checked, causing ‘significant safeguarding concerns.’
In multiple instances, councils discovered sponsor information was faked, with kebab shops or other businesses used as addresses – but the applications had already been approved and the refugee had already arrived in the country.
One 22-year-old woman who says she has been living and working in Switzerland since March 2022 this week said she was looking for a sponsor in the UK because ‘there are a lot of opportunities’ there, adding: ‘But I need a little help to get started, i.e. with housing, as it is the most expensive and at first I will not be able to provide it myself.’
In one sponsor request (pictured), a 19-year-old male from Kyiv, who is forbidden from leaving his country due to being of fighting age, admitted he planned to use his disabled grandfather to get permission to travel
Ms Nishigaki, who has hosted multiple guests in her seven-bedroom home in Wychavon in the West Midlands, said: ‘My first guest Yulia is fabulous and still with me and can stay as long as she wants… but others haven’t been so lucky and thefts and benefit fraud are more common that people might think.’
MailOnline has unearthed multiple social media posts offering to provide faked documents to Ukrainians arriving in Britain, including driving licences and phony DVLA exam certificates.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: British host claims Homes for Ukraine refugee ‘tried to rape him’ in his bedroom – but says ‘police took no DNA’ and released suspect without charge to be re-homed
West Midlands Police decided there was insufficient evidence after taking statements from both men, and ‘did not even try’ to collect DNA evidence, the host’s shocked partner claimed. (Pictured: Ukrainian guest, main, during video call with the British host, top right corner)
‘My first guest asked me who he could buy a driving licence from,’ Ms Nishigaki continued, ‘when I insisted he had to take a test and go through the DVLA, he complained that in Ukraine ”if you want something you just pay for it”.
‘He also did not want to work even though I found him a job paying £24,000, while he and his wife were claiming benefits as individual single people.’
Another post on a Facebook group called Scotland For Ukraine pictured dozens of boxes of what appeared to be illegally imported cigarettes from the war-torn country, with a caption in Ukrainian urging interested buyers to message the seller directly.
Meanwhile one Ukrainian website brazenly offers to create fake diplomas and qualifications that can be used abroad, boasting: ‘With our help, you could live and work in Europe and the USA!’
It comes as a number of hosts told MailOnline today that they feel they have been ‘well and truly had’ after housing Ukrainian families – including one couple who called in police after their guest allegedly stole thousands of pounds worth of goods and fled the country. They did not want to share their story over fears of reprisals.
The fed-up homeowners have banded together to form an online community to vent their frustrations with the Homes for Ukraine programme – while collecting evidence of potential fraudsters who continue to operate across social media platform.
Steph Logue, 56, from Whittington, West Midlands, took in a mother and her child, who was said to possibly have autism but in fact was severely autistic.
She claimed that four months after they arrived, the woman’s husband asked if he could join them without going through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Ms Logue added: ‘Of course we said no, and surely he’d be missed as he told he was going to fight for his country.
‘It was at this point he had to admit he wasn’t fighting and had been living a normal, safe life, away from any conflict. We approached our guest and confronted her with this and she said she didn’t know anything about him saying he was going to fight.
‘Things got very fractious after this confrontation and a week later she told us she wanted to go home, saying it was safe there now.’
Ukrainian seeks a sponsor in the UK despite living and working in Portugal – as it is ‘their dream to move to Britain’
It comes after MailOnline last year revealed how a Ukrainian guest allegedly tried to rape his male host, before he was removed by police and placed elsewhere.
It was also revealed how a British host was reported for modern day slavery after asking her guest to help out more with the dishes. The investigation was dropped.
The Department of Levelling Up did not provide a comment to MailOnline.
A government spokesperson said: ‘There is no evidence to suggest that a significant number of Ukrainian refugees are defrauding the welfare system, but where instances of misspend do occur, we are focused on identifying cases and ensuring funds are returned to the public purse.
‘We are committed to supporting Ukrainian refugees who have fled their homes following Russia’s barbaric invasion, giving those affected day one access to income-based benefits such as Universal Credit and disability and carer benefits, as long as they meet wider eligibility requirements.’
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