Exposed: TikTok Tutorials Reveal Fake Asylum Scams Targeting the UK

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A disturbing investigation has uncovered how fraudulent asylum seekers exploit the UK's immigration system by falsely claiming to be from Eritrea, a war-torn East African country. Through brazen TikTok tutorials and other online platforms, individuals are openly coaching migrants to fabricate stories that secure them asylum in Britain, despite their true origins being far safer.  

 

 

The Mail's investigation reveals a growing network of thousands of individuals sharing resources on how to deceive Home Office officials. This includes detailed guides on Eritrean culture, geography, and traditions, designed to bolster false claims. The strategy exploits Eritrea’s exceptional 99% asylum approval rate, a figure driven by the nation’s reputation for severe human rights abuses.  

 

 

In one shocking instance, Ethiopian migrant Michaele Abraha, a London-based Uber driver, uses TikTok to boast about his asylum claim success. Abraha, who posts under the alias "Miki Abrere," openly admits he pretended to be Eritrean to gain refugee status in the UK. His account, with 16,000 followers, serves as a hub for guiding others in filing false asylum applications.  

 

Abraha's advice goes beyond cultural mimicry. He encourages migrants to claim they are minors to expedite their cases. In one TikTok session translated from Amharic, a language primarily spoken in Ethiopia, Abraha instructs viewers to "act like a child" by altering their behavior and appearance. For instance, he suggests allowing hair to grow longer to appear youthful and dressing in ways that might mislead authorities or hotel staff handling asylum seekers.  

 

Abraha also advises migrants on damage control if inconsistencies in their claims arise. In one instance, he reassures a migrant who feared exposure by suggesting they claim nervousness or miscommunication during interviews. Additionally, he recommends attending Eritrean community events and documenting interactions with Eritreans to lend credibility to their fabricated stories.  

 

Eritrea’s oppressive regime has earned the country the nickname "North Korea of Africa," due to policies like indefinite military conscription, forced labor, and systemic repression. This grim reality justifies the high asylum approval rate for genuine Eritrean refugees. However, Ethiopia, while not without its challenges, is significantly safer and even hosts over 800,000 refugees, many of them Eritreans fleeing their homeland.  

 

Robert Jenrick, the former Immigration Minister, described the findings as a "national security emergency." He criticized political opponents for not taking stronger measures to deter illegal migration, stating, "This is a national security emergency and the British public are rightly sick of it. It’s got to be stopped."  

 

The investigation identified multiple Ethiopians using similar deceptive methods. Some shared success stories in online communities, while others provided step-by-step guides, including how to destroy identifying documents and fabricate untraceable narratives.  

 

From 2010 to March 2024, nearly 35,000 asylum claims in the UK were attributed to Eritreans, a significant figure considering the country's population of 3.6 million. Between 2018 and 2024, Eritreans surpassed Syrians in approved asylum claims, despite Syria’s far larger population and ongoing civil war.  

 

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, criticized the laxity of the system, stating, "Make your way to the UK illegally, destroy anything that could identify you, make up a story that can’t be checked, and you’re home and dry. I dread to think how many in the backlog now being granted asylum or permission to stay have lied about who they are and where they’re from."  

 

The Home Office has pledged to investigate the allegations and revoke refugee status if it was obtained fraudulently. A spokesman emphasized, "We are fully committed to ensuring our asylum system is not open to abuse and protection is granted only to those who genuinely need it."  

 

Repeated attempts to contact Abraha for comment have gone unanswered. However, his TikTok activity and the growing network of similar schemes expose a critical vulnerability in the UK's asylum system, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-11-19