MIGRANTS are allegedly posting “lonely hearts” ads in sham marriage Facebook groups in a bid to get visas and dodge deportation.
Examples of the ads – now removed – appear to be migrants looking for partners to win legal immigration status, and have been found across several different Facebook groups.
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A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover Credit: PA
Migrants are allegedly posting ‘lonely hearts’ ads in sham marriage groups Credit: Getty
At least eight such ‘lonely hearts’ Facebooks have been flagged to Meta Credit: AFP
The posts shared information about what the person behind it was hoping to find in a partner.
Many stated they were hoping to get legal immigration status out of the marriages.
At least eight public groups on the social media platform were flagged to operators Meta by the i newspaper and since been taken down.
One of the ads reportedly stated: “Looking for a citizen bride for my brother-in-law who is in the UK on a carer’s visa.
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“No shame in saying it how it is.”
Some people even offered their own settled status in a bid to attract a potential partner.
Another person said they were “struggling with visa hassle” and looking for a “contract or real marriage”.
While another was “looking for a groom for a UK Illegal Bride [sic]”.
One man, reportedly with “settled” visa issues, said he was hoping to help other migrants “going through these struggles” and another offered his “unwavering commitment” as a husband in exchange for helping secure a job.
In the UK, sham marriages are illegal and people who enter one are breaking the law – however, the arrangements are thought to be rare.
A Freedom of Information request by openDemocracy found that only 1.2 per cent of 107,432 marriages flagged as suspicious between 2016 and 2022 were shams.
Dr Peter Walsh, senior researcher at Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, told the i: “There have long been reports of people attempting to arrange marriages for immigration advantage, including through informal networks…
“What social media appears to do is make this activity more visible and easier to organise.”
A Meta spokesperson told The Jattvibe: “We have removed content brought to our attention for violating our policies.”
It’s understood Meta is continually investing in protections against fraud and works closely with law enforcement to tackle the issue.
A Home Office spokesperson said “no stone is left unturned” in their investigations into the practice.They continued: “Early disruption through the referral and investigation scheme plays a vital role in stopping sham marriages, dismantling organised criminal networks, and preventing leave being granted in the UK when it is not deserved.”
The Jattvibe has approached Meta and the Home Office for further comment.
Do you know more? Email douglas.simpson@thesun.co.uk
