voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. i think that is her. she has sat down with our undercover researcher. this woman is running an elaborate immigration scam. she finds british mentor _ immigration scam. she finds british mentor poses - immigration scam. she finds british mentor poses fathersl immigration scam. she finds i british mentor poses fathers to children— british mentor poses fathers to children who are not theirs,

giving — children who are not theirs, giving migrant women a way to stay— giving migrant women a way to stay in — giving migrant women a way to stay in the _ giving migrant women a way to stay in the uk. we giving migrant women a way to stay in the uk.— stay in the uk. we go undercover _ stay in the uk. we go undercover to - stay in the uk. we go undercover to exposel stay in the uk. we go - undercover to expose those behind this criminal enterprise.- behind this criminal enterprise. behind this criminal enterrise. ., enterprise. this fake father scam is incredibly - enterprise. this fake father. scam is incredibly elaborate, incredibly sophisticated and difficult to police. we incredibly sophisticated and difficult to police.— difficult to police. we found some men _ difficult to police. we found some men are _ difficult to police. we found some men are being - difficult to police. we found some men are being paid . some men are being paid thousands to be fake dads. and it is happening across communities, underthe and it is happening across communities, under the radar of the authorities. it is the authorities. it is shocking, _ the authorities. it is shocking, isn't - the authorities. it is shocking, isn't it? l the authorities. it isl shocking, isn't it? it the authorities. it is i shocking, isn't it? it is the authorities. it is - shocking, isn't it? it is not a i—off, it has been going on for years. this is a scandal waiting to be exposed. iam i am divya talwar, an investigative journalist. a year ago i stumbled across some

strange posts on social media. i had no idea then that these posts would lead me to uncover a brazen, sophisticated criminal operation. there are so many posts here. if anyone wants me to be there baby's father, to make fake documents, contact me and he left his mobile number. the place seemed out of place. an open vietnamese facebook group of supposedly are people trying to find jobs and the same with cropping up in the dozens of posts we came across. almost all of these posts mentioned redbook. the red book is basically the british passport. these groups appear to provide an illicit marketplace to get hold of a uk passport. it

wasn't clear how but what we could tell is that it seemed to involve pregnant, migrant women without a visa, looking for british dads. most of the posts look like they were from fake profiles and they all seem to want to move the conversation off—line. were any of them even genuine? one name to cropping up genuine? one name to cropping up online, someone called t kim. —— thi kim. she had left her number on some of the post so we decided to get in touch. we are posing as a young woman from vietnam, living in the uk illegally. she is pregnant. the father is a man also here without a visa. hello? hi hello, thi kim,.

translation: _ translation: thi kim titre undercover she could help a child at uk citizenship. technically, a baby born _ citizenship. technically, a baby born he _ citizenship. technically, a baby born he does - citizenship. technically, a baby born he does not. citizenship. technically, a| baby born he does not get citizenship. technically, a - baby born he does not get that automatically without at least one british parent but thi kim says she can get around that, for a price. she wants to meet up. we arrange for a researcher on our team to go undercover.

we are meeting at a cafe in london. we do not know what thi kim looks like or if she is coming alone so the team is nearby in case anything goes wrong. that is the place over there. i can see our undercover researcherjust there. i can see our undercover researcher just sitting there. i can see our undercover researcherjust sitting outside in a cafe at the moment. no sign of the woman yet. undercover researcher has been waiting almost half—an—hour now. i don't know if this woman would turn up. we start to think she is missing us around or may have seen us or our or may have seen us or our cover may or may have seen us or our cover may have been blown. we are about to leave but then she makes contact. i think that is her. i think that is the woman. yeah, she hasjust sat her. i think that is the woman. yeah, she has just sat down with our undercover researcher. she has come on her own.

translation: thi kim is confident she can get a british passport for both the woman and her baby and offering an illegal immigration route to stay in the uk. thi kim says — route to stay in the uk. thi kim says she _ route to stay in the uk. thi kim says she can _ route to stay in the uk. thi kim says she can find a british mentor poses the father. —— british man. she says she has a number of british man to choose from and it is not long before the conversation turns to money. as

a fixer, kim only with a small fee but the man posing as a father we need to be paid a lot more. kim givesa kim gives a hard sell and that she is very experienced and even cheaper than those out there for offering this fake service.

kim says the next step is for us to meet the potential fake dad that she has lined up. it would have to be somewhere private and we would need to bring a large deposit to secure their dad. we obviously not going to hand over any cash to her so we would tell her we will think about it. typically, she suggesting a strictly business arrangement. the man would not have any actual role in the would not have any actual role in the child's would not have any actual role in the child's life. would not have any actual role in the child's life. his would not have any actual role in the child's life. his name would just be put on the baby's birth certificate. the infant will get automatic british citizenship and then the mother could apply for a family these are to stay in the uk, but could people get away with this? anna gonzalez has more than 20 years in immigration law. what legal options are

available to pregnant migrant women in the uk who do not have any legal status to stay here? somebody in that position would have very limited options, possibly no options. if a baby is born in _ possibly no options. if a baby is born in the _ possibly no options. if a baby is born in the uk _ possibly no options. if a baby is born in the uk and - possibly no options. if a baby is born in the uk and let's - possibly no options. if a baby| is born in the uk and let's say the father has the legal status to stay in the uk but the mother does not, what does that mean for the baby? if a mother does not, what does that mean for the baby?— mean for the baby? if a woman has no visa _ mean for the baby? if a woman has no visa to _ mean for the baby? if a woman has no visa to stay _ mean for the baby? if a woman has no visa to stay in _ mean for the baby? if a woman has no visa to stay in the - mean for the baby? if a woman has no visa to stay in the uk i has no visa to stay in the uk and gives birth to a child by a british citizen, that baby is automatically british by birth, and she could potentially obtain live to remain as the parent in order to facilitate this child's being raised in the uk. this is not a loophole and should not be seen as such because the basis of this provision is to protect british children. ~ . , ., provision is to protect british children. ~ ., .,~ provision is to protect british children. ., ., children. what you make of this, children. what you make of this. this — children. what you make of this, this fake _ children. what you make of this, this fake father - children. what you make of| this, this fake father scam? this fake father scam is

incredibly elaborate, very sophisticated, incredibly difficult to police by the home office and the authorities. in a way it is proof of how desperate these women are an incredible length they are prepared to go through in order to secure their right to remain in the uk. to secure their right to remain in the uk-_ in the uk. last year, the government _ in the uk. last year, the government granted - in the uk. last year, the i government granted nearly in the uk. last year, the - government granted nearly 5000 family visas to other dependents, the category that includes those for leave to apply for british children, and we don't know how many have been granted to people who have cheated the system. but we track down some women who managed to dupe the authorities. one woman's story has been portrayed by an actress. i has been portrayed by an actress-— actress. i found out i was pregnant and _ actress. i found out i was pregnant and someone i | actress. i found out i was - pregnant and someone i knew introduced me to a man who agreed to be my baby father. he was 30 years older than me. i

heard he had done it before with another woman. the woman came to the _ with another woman. the woman came to the uk _ with another woman. the woman came to the uk on _ with another woman. the woman came to the uk on a _ with another woman. the woman came to the uk on a visitor- came to the uk on a visitor visa. that expired two years ago and shortly after she found out she was pregnant. fearing deportation, she decided to find a fake dad.— deportation, she decided to find a fake dad. when i used the service, _ find a fake dad. when i used the service, it _ find a fake dad. when i used the service, it cost - find a fake dad. when i used the service, it cost £9,000. | find a fake dad. when i used i the service, it cost £9,000. at ourfirst meeting, i checked the paperwork to make sure he was a uk citizen. and then i paid him 3000 deposit. he came with me to the hospital when i left with the baby, the newborn baby, and one more time when he took us to the office to get the baby birth certificate. after the woman had her baby's birth certificate, she was able to apply for her child's british passport.-

to apply for her child's british --assort. , , british passport. the passport was delivered _ british passport. the passport was delivered to _ british passport. the passport was delivered to our - british passport. the passport was delivered to our house i was delivered to our house after three weeks. i also hired after three weeks. i also hired a vietnamese woman to do my paperwork. after about a week, i got my visa to stay in the this woman seems to have gotten away of putting the name of a fake dad on her child's birth certificate. immigration lawyer says he has been seeing this for years across different communities. he hopes a phone in immigration surgery where people phoning with all types of issues — as he runs and immigration surgery.

and she asks if i have a british persons name on the birth certificate, as a dad? as a dad. it birth certificate, as a dad? as a dad. ,, ~ birth certificate, as a dad? as adad. ,, ,�* a dad. it is shocking, isn't it? she — a dad. it is shocking, isn't it? she is _ a dad. it is shocking, isn't it? she is trying _ a dad. it is shocking, isn't it? she is trying to - a dad. it is shocking, isn't i it? she is trying to scamming the system, openly scamming the system. these are real—life situations where people are calling in brazenly, telling us in front of millions of viewers that this is what they have done. how widespread do you think

this scam would be? it how widespread do you think this scam would be?- how widespread do you think this scam would be? it has the otential this scam would be? it has the potential to — this scam would be? it has the potential to be _ this scam would be? it has the potential to be widespread, i potential to be widespread, potentially, in the thousands. it is not a i—off and it has been going on for years. it is not a 1-off and it has been going on for years. what ou been going on for years. what you make _ been going on for years. what you make of _ been going on for years. what you make of this? _ been going on for years. what| you make of this? essentially, usina a you make of this? essentially, using a child — you make of this? essentially, using a child or— you make of this? essentially, using a child or having - you make of this? essentially, using a child or having a i you make of this? essentially, using a child or having a childl using a child or having a child is a purpose to get a visa, ethically, is not right, morally it is not right, mentally it is not right. it is legally, definitely not right. at the home office hasjust legally, definitely not right. at the home office has just not picked up on this. and it is a scandal waiting to be exposed. we keep hearing about a prolific fake dad service operating across the uk. unlike other agents we have come across, they don't seem to advertise on social media. instead, it is all word of mouth. this network is known by some as the ring. we have been told they can get you a british dad for a price. it is as easy as ordering a pizza. just call up as ordering a pizza. just call up and place your order —— the

ring. the man we spoke to called himself ty. it is not long before he gets back in touch. he says he has a dad for us. he wants to talk in person about the next step. we arranged to meet in london. our undercover journalist is posing as a pregnant visa that make vietnamese woman without a visa

in the uk. we do not know who will show up. i in the uk. we do not know who will show urn-— will show up. i was not exoecting _ will show up. i was not expecting three - will show up. i was not expecting three guys l will show up. i was not| expecting three guys to will show up. i was not i expecting three guys to turn up. expecting three guys to turn u . _ , , , up. this is tyre, the ringleader _ up. this is tyre, the | ringleader organising up. this is tyre, the i ringleader organising the operation. to one is translating vietnamese to english for andy, a british man from london who will pose as the dad. tire and twine are confident can help our undercover

journalist due to the authorities. what are they doing? it looks like they are taking selfies together. it

looks like he is smiling, it looks like he is smiling, it looks like he is smiling, it looks like he is completely on board with this. we're told those selfies will help create evidence of a believable relationship in case immigration officials get suspicious. the fake dad now wants to talk about money. i so so it looks like the translator has just told the fake dad that he will be getting £8,000. we heard the agents say the dad will get £9,000. he is either

getting his numbers wrong or trying to get a bigger cut for himself. are you ok? are you 0k? it was a bit scary at the beginning. _ are you 0k? it was a bit scary at the beginning. they - are you 0k? it was a bit scary at the beginning. they tried i are you 0k? it was a bit scary| at the beginning. they tried to be friendly to me, they were very sure about the process, you know. 50 very sure about the process, you know-— you know. so it sounds like they have _ you know. so it sounds like they have done _ you know. so it sounds like they have done this - you know. so it sounds like | they have done this before? you know. so it sounds like i they have done this before? i'm cuite they have done this before? i'm quite sure _

they have done this before? in quite sure about that. he repeated a lot of the time that they had success.— repeated a lot of the time that they had success. what did they sa is the they had success. what did they say is the next _ they had success. what did they say is the next step? _ they had success. what did they say is the next step? the - they had success. what did they say is the next step? the next l say is the next step? the next ste isi say is the next step? the next step is l have _ say is the next step? the next step is i have to _ say is the next step? the next step is i have to pay. - say is the next step? the next step is i have to pay. they i step is i have to pay. they will prepare the story and send it to me so i need to learn it ljy it to me so i need to learn it by heart. there were £3000 and then step—by—step i pay the rest. then step-by-step i pay the rest. ., .., , rest. the ringleader called us more than — rest. the ringleader called us more than 20 _ rest. the ringleader called us more than 20 times - rest. the ringleader called us more than 20 times in - rest. the ringleader called us more than 20 times in the i rest. the ringleader called us l more than 20 times in the days following. the fake dad he found me, andrew, showed us his british passport. he was born in london. we do not know if he has posed as a father before. we have been told that thi kim has done this before and we understand he has helped a number of women find a fake dad. with the help of the translator it is time for me to speak with him. hello. hello. is that thi do question what i am a journalist from bbc news.

we have evidence of you running an illegal immigration scan. we have had conversations with you where you have actually offered this scam to our undercover journalist. we have evidence of you running this illegal immigration scan. hejust put the phone down. so he said he has not done anything wrong and straightaway he said he will talk to my lawyers. if he doesn't want to say anything else. all the people we spoke involved in the fake father bracket have been brazen and confident about being able to dupe the authorities. but there are big risks, especially when there is serious money involved. we spoke to a woman who knows this firsthand. her

story is being portrayed by an actress. she ended up paying the man £10,000.

it turned out the man she found on facebook to be a fake father was also in the uk illegally. the woman now has a complete stranger as the father on her baby's birth certificate. and there is not much you can do about it. she is still here illegally. we came across other women posting online about how they were scammed as well. facebook says it does not allow birth certificate fraud on the side and says it will continue to remove content that violates its policies. it to remove content that violates its policies-— its policies. it is very important _ its policies. it is very important that i its policies. it is very important that this l its policies. it is very| important that this is its policies. it is very i important that this is to protect children. it is just to protect children. it is just to protect children. it is just to protect children who are born here who are completely innocent and have the right to grow up and live here like any other child. ii grow up and live here like any other child.— other child. if you look at convictions _ other child. if you look at convictions in _ other child. if you look at convictions in this - other child. if you look at convictions in this you i other child. if you look at | convictions in this you will not — convictions in this you will not find _ convictions in this you will not find thousands of convictions. you won't find cases— convictions. you won't find cases where people have been

caught— cases where people have been caught but essentially they should _ caught but essentially they should be and it is a criminal act — should be and it is a criminal act. , ., act. he thinks there is an obvious _ act. he thinks there is an obvious way _ act. he thinks there is an obvious way for - act. he thinks there is an obvious way for the i act. he thinks there is an | obvious way for the home act. he thinks there is an - obvious way for the home office to stop this type of immigration fraud. ii to stop this type of immigration fraud. to stop this type of immiaration fraud. . immigration fraud. if the child claims to be — immigration fraud. if the child claims to be british _ immigration fraud. if the child claims to be british or- immigration fraud. if the child claims to be british or have i immigration fraud. if the child claims to be british or have a | claims to be british or have a british parent and the other parent does not have a visa, that should ring alarm bells anyway. it should be a perfect case for them to say ok, we need a dna test. so that is why people are doing it. there is no fear of any replication. the home office _ no fear of any replication. the home office says _ no fear of any replication. the home office says it _ no fear of any replication. the home office says it has measures in place to prevent and detect immigration fraud. it told us that caseworkers receive fraud awareness training and checks are conducted during the processing of immigration and passport applications. the law states a birth certificate alone may not be sufficient evidence or proof of paternity. where we need to establish the natural father additional evidence may be requested. we contacted thi,

tuan and andrew about the issues raised in this film. none real —— responded. the fake father bracket seems to be an open secret in different migrant communities and it looks like it has been happening for years under the radar of authorities. while fraudsters are cashing in, some women have been left with nothing but regret.

hello there. it's been a lovely start to the weekend, really — especially across england and wales, where we've had lots of sunshine, so blue skies over these bluebell woods in south wales in pontypridd. and on the satellite picture, you can see the extent of the sunshine. a bit more cloud for scotland and northern ireland, the weak weather front overhead here, but we've still managed some brighter spells — and, actually, for scotland, northern ireland, england and wales, we had temperatures reaching the low 20s in the warmest spots. the 21.5 there in porthmadog actually making it the warmest day of the year so far for wales. now, over the next few hours, we've got another weather front that's moving in, it's kind of pepping up, bringing a bit of heavy rain for a time to scotland and northern ireland but as we get towards dawn, that will tend to start to fizzle away. clear skies for england and wales allowing temperatures to dip down to around 5—8 degrees celsius. it'll be quite a cool start to sunday morning for england and wales. sunday's charts.

well, we've got a weak weather front moving into an area of high pressure. the high pressure will squish the weather front, so not much rain on it, really, as we head into sunday — just this stripe of cloud. so, a few spots around but generally, although quite cloudy, there'll be some bright weather coming through at times. england and wales again having the best of the weather with plenty of sunshine around. perhaps a bit of cloud developing through the afternoon across east anglia and the south—east. but those temperatures again, not bad for the time of year. quite close to average, really, with highs into the upper teens or low 20s. 21, maybe a 22 in the warmest spots. now, heading into next week, it's a similar kind of scenario — a very weak weather front trying to come around the top side of this area of high pressure, so again, you may see an odd spit of rain for scotland and northern ireland, but not much. most of the day will be dry with some sunny spells coming through. again, it's england and wales that will have the best of the day's sunshine and we'll continue to see those temperatures in the warmest spots climb into the low 20s. now, deeper into next week, the jet stream takes this kind of pattern. kind of a ridge over the uk,

so high pressure will be close by and these troughs around southern europe will ensure that we continue to see heavy, thundery showers across southern europe — which is quite unusual, really, for this time of the year. so, here's the forecast in a bit more detail. over the next several days, you can see the extent of the dryer weather we'll have and temperatures again holding for the most part at around 18—21 celsius, so some fine weather next week.

live from washington, this is bbc news. president zelensky meets with world leaders on the final day of the g7 summit injapan. the defence ministry in moscow says wagner mercenaries, with the support of russian troops, have taken full control of the battleground city of bakhmut — claims ukraine denies. the celebrated british author martin amis has died at the age of 73. hello, i'm helena humphrey.