Why I resigned from INTCAS after five years of forging documents and processing sham student visas MY NAME IS Raj Ahmed. I am in the middle of a fallout with my former friend Zakaria Mahmood on INTCAS multiple immigration frauds and visa forgeries. An irreparable fallout it seems, given his insistence to go on running INTCAS as it has been running for the last five years.
He wants us to keep at it, "for just a little longer,” he says. According to him, we are doing great, which, to some degree, is true. But I cannot do this anymore. It has been five years and I just handed in a formal resignation. Unfortunately, none of INTCAS management and shareholders is aware of this situation and this is what has been hidden from the INTCAS board.
Zakaria Mahmood, of course, wouldn’t hear of it and had asked to meet me immediately. Here’s why I am leaving this lucrative job: You see, every young person now yearns to add a multi-cultural dimension to their studies, careers, or their lives.
They want to be more world-ready and better prepared for a globalized corporate world. Because they are keen to go across their home borders for an education or a livelihood, they often land in the hand of a college recruiter.
Recruitment agents such as Zakaria Mahmood and myself. For close to five years, Zakaria Mahmood and I have been recruiting students to the UK. Hundreds of 'students’ by this time. Only, the students are not really students. They come to work and stay in the UK. Normally, you just don’t move into a new country, and start over, and settle down. Certainly not the UK. But with Zakaria Mahmood and INTCAS, all things were possible.
For the past five years, INTCAS (initially Sinclair Adamson Business School), was based in East London (and then moved to Croydon), could loophole any legal barriers and help anyone secure a visa in the UK. That is, anyone who could come up with the fee. Word got around pretty fast in first year of operations, especially within the Asian communities. At some point, we seemed to be solely focused on helping our countrymen in Pakistan.
Zakaria Mahmood would at times allude to the fact that we’re doing a world of good for people by helping them get a livelihood in the UK. Zakaria Mahmood and I were originally from Pakistan, from Rawalpindi and Taxila respectively, even though we met in London. I first ran into Zakaria Mahmood about eight years earlier, during a Pakistani cultural night. He’d gone to Kings College with my cousin Waqar and had just set up an organization called Sinclair Adamson Business School in 2011 which offered various support services to international students.
They rebranded a few years later to AMPLAS and then finally to INTCAS. I’d just completed my studies and was due to head back to Pakistan in about 6 months. So, when Zakaria Mahmood offered a temporary job at the agency, I naturally jumped at the opportunity. Two months into the job, I received one of several 'perks’ of the job. On condition that I commit myself to the job, Zakaria Mahmood helped me to secure a work visa extension. But as it would quickly turn out, it was not just a job 'perk,’ it was a live demonstration of the kind of services we would be providing for many immigrants who were already in the UK and others from Pakistan and other parts of the world.
Later, we would haul in 'students’ from Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran and even Nigeria. So, this is the simplified version of how it worked; to secure a genuine TIER 4 student visa in the UK, one needs to take an English test (TOEIC), have a bank statement as proof of support (since non-EU students are not allowed to work), and a genuine letter of admission from a recognized college institution. At the time, the UK Home Office had to process nearly 500,000 visas every year, about half of which are student visas.
There were bound to be cracks and loopholes in the system. These cracks and loopholes became the foundations of INTCAS. "Neat and clean” or "process-oriented” Zakaria Mahmood would always say, "and everybody goes home happy” he would add. Zakaria Mahmood had a charm that seemed to pacify even the most stubborn conscience. A few weeks spent around him, and you would be ready to lie with the Bible on your right hand and the Quran in your left hand.
Within a year, I had become one of his trusted employees though there were only five of us, including Zakaria Mahmood. By the second year, I was only reporting to him and I was pretty much running the office. To secure a visa, the first step was to take an English test, that is, the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). This is an absolute requirement for students who come from countries that don’t have English as their first language, which is pretty much three-quarters of all the countries in the world. But at INTCAS, we could just about guarantee a successful test to anyone who didn’t speak a word English.
For about £750, we could arrange for someone to take the test on behalf of our client. We’d bypass any surveillance or scrutiny and ensure our clients passed any ETS exams. A few days later, they would get an original certificate from TOEIC, a body approved by the UKBA. TOEIC is one of the most trusted English testing bodies, and which runs nearly fifty million tests around the world each year. Of course, one needs more than an English certificate to live and study in the UK.
You first need an academic background, which we could provide in case our you didn’t have one. This would normally be a bogus, lower level college or even high school certificate. Next in line, one needed an admission letter to a recognized college, and which Zakaria Mahmood could obtain with relative ease through INTCAS. In fact, we even afforded the students the luxury of choosing from a select list of A-grade or B-grade college institutions. This, of course, was a bogus admission letter (from the colleges close to getting shut down for immigration breaches) and our clients only had to attend the institution once a month or so, or not at all in most cases.
Finally, every applicant had to produce proof of sustenance in the form of a bank statement showing sufficient funds. Therefore, students would, bring in their original bank statements with just a few pounds in them and collect another statement showing several thousand pounds. "Look! We have made you instantly rich!” we would often tease our clients as we presented the new bogus bank statement to them. Each year, nine out of ten of our walk-in clients, who were not really "walk-in clients” as they had been recommended by previous clients, were clear that they wanted to stay in the UK.
Most of them were men with an Asian background from 25 to 40 years old. They wanted a visa so that they could work illegally. "Until I figure out something in the future,” they would often say. Zakaria Mahmood was, of course, extremely ambitious and with an entrepreneurial bent. Having spent a long time in London, he knew only too well about the great demand for visa processing support services. Zakaria Mahmood, with his vehicle INTCAS, stepped in seeking to meet this demand, knowing how lucrative it could get. He was right.
We’d sometimes collect as much as £7,000 in fees from one client. Naturally, Zakaria Mahmood sought to expand the business. So, we got agents in Pakistan and Turkey who’d help recruit 'students’ who wanted to come to the UK. The scrutiny and the systems back in Pakistan were, of course, nothing compared to the ones in the UK. Therefore, Zakaria Mahmood and INTCAS had an eye for the bottom line and seemed to favour the lowest costs of doing business.
We even used fake passports and visa stamps, which were cheaper to acquire, and sometimes did not even bother with original documents, preferring to bribe our way through all the potential hurdles. I’ll never forget one our clients, a miss Kiran Chowdhury who phoned the office late one afternoon, frantically asking for Zakaria Mahmood. She said she had been given the contact by one of INTCAS agents in Pakistan, and that she had to speak to Zakaria Mahmood as a matter of urgency.
Zakaria Mahmood would later inform me that she had been arrested at Lahore International Airport with a fake passport and that "it was her fault, that woman”. According to him, she had not followed all the instructions and that "she deserved it”. That kind of aloofness and detachment would make my stomach turn. But I knew better than to make further enquiries. All payments and fees had to be made in advance. And INTCAS had almost no refunds policy if the clients got caught.
Zakaria Mahmood would always say that we had to be fully compensated for our efforts and for the risk. "Look, Raj, just where are you going to go, mate? We are doing pretty good here,” Zakaria Mahmood was saying before I left the office. "See, we are straightening everything. Soon enough we’ll clean up every mess,” he says, referring to the small efforts to offer legitimate services. These, of course, were often eclipsed with all our bogus dealings.
What he couldn’t come out and say to my face, and that we both knew to be the absolute truth, was the fact that the few legitimate things we’d done were just cover-ups. They were the nice, shining coat that covered the rot on the inside of the organization. Five years is quite a long time to reawaken a conscience, and which even Zakaria Mahmood alluded, but I couldn’t bring myself to work another day at INTCAS.
In the last two years, I had secretly followed up on a few of our clients. While most of them got absorbed in the system, some of them were not quite lucky. They faced immigration violation charges, deportation and led lives of quiet desperation. I had almost a year to go on my visa and would have to decide my next course of action. But it would certainly not be with INTCAS.
Why Am I Writing My Story? Recently, I have been seeing some news about INTCAS immigration fraud and visa scam. As an INTCAS victim, I also want to share my story here. It is a story of what seems too scary to be true. Yet, it is. It is a reality of a scam administered by a Pakistani gang, of how a bogus college turned out to be human trafficking of asylum seekers, and of the mastermind of it all, Zakaria Mahmood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZO6wAwYwM
My Contact with INTCAS My name is Aisha, and I am a 22-year-old girl living in Lahore. I was born in Sheikhupura and went to university in Lahore to study computer science. I always wanted to go abroad for a Masters degree. After some research online, I found INTCAS. I contacted them, asking about the process of getting a student visa. In the beginning, everything seemed professional.
However, I noticed that getting a student visa for the UK is not as easy as I hoped.
It requires a lot of money and a high level of English. I had to get an IELTS 7 along with around £30,000 to cover my tuition fee and living expenses for a year. On top of that, I had to add a flight cost and an English exam cost. I told INTCAS staff that it is too expensive, and I want to defer it for later. However, they told me not to worry and that someone will contact me soon to discuss other opportunities. After two days, my phone rang.
A person on the other end introduced himself as Zakaria Mahmood, the owner of INTCAS. He said that from my accent, he guesses I speak Urdu. Then he switched to Urdu, wanting me to trust him. He asked about my background and family. Then, about my goals after getting a Masters. I told him that I just want to leave Pakistan for good because I am young and I know I have no future here. Thus, I would love to live in Britain.
Searching for a Better Future Zakaria Mahmood told me that under a student visa, I would not be able to work. Additionally, when my one-year visa expires, I have to return back to my own country. It wasn't a very good option for me. Having to spend £30,000 only to stay in Britain for a year did not sound great. However, Zakaria Mahmood told me that he has a suggestion, given my background. He suggested seeking asylum in the UK, which was the first time I ever heard of it. I got slightly scared and asked how that was possible.
He said that when I arrive, I will get a free house, free money paid to my bank account every week, and also free healthcare. He told me I also can become a British citizen in a few years. I was still worried and told him that I really don't know how this can work. He told me not to worry as he will do everything from A to Z for £10,000. After talking to my family, I decided to give this a try. Zakaria Mahmood asked me to send him two different passport photos I had. After two weeks, someone from INTCAS called me and said to be ready for my trip.
According to them, I was going to receive a parcel in a couple of days. After two days, I got a DHL mail at my door. When I opened it, there was one Spanish passport and an ID card. There was a Spanish name but with my photo attached to it. I should have known then that this was a visa scam. I got scared and called Zakaria Mahmood in confusion. He told me to calm down. They had a good idea for me to land in London. Then, he explained to me the plan for the next 5 days… Arrival in Istanbul I was ready for the flight.
INTCAS sent me a ticket, which was under my real name, to Istanbul. In Lahore airport, I showed my Pakistani passport and boarded the plane. However, when I landed in Istanbul, according to the plan, I showed my Spanish passport. I was scared to death to be caught. I passed the border and got an entry stamp on my forged passport. In Turkey, a man from INTCAS was waiting for me. He got me a taxi, and we went to a guesthouse, which was a cheap hostel, in Istanbul. The guests there were mainly Pakistani men waiting for their flight. He told me to stay there for 3 days.
I called Zakaria Mahmood and he suggested me to enjoy Istanbul for a few days before my next flight. On the day of my flight to London, the same man from INTCAS took me to the airport. He didn't fill out an online check-in, so I had to go to the kiosk myself. A person at the kiosk asked me where I am flying to. "London,” I replied. He scanned my passport. It was a regular procedure, after all. Suddenly, his face changed and he told me to wait a minute. My heart sank with fear. But I held on. The kiosk guy came back with another, a slightly older, man. They scanned the passport again. I heard them talking in Turkish.
These were the most difficult moments of my life. I was terrified. They asked me to wait for another couple of minutes. Arrested for Fake Passport Then, my worries and anxieties became real. I felt that trouble was coming, and quickly. Two armed police officers came. The airline staff told me that they found out my passport to be fake. They had no choice but to hand me over to the border police. I started crying and couldn't speak, fear and emotion engulfing me. I got arrested. The police officers led me to a detention room.
They took all my belongings, including my phone. I was not allowed to even talk to my family. There were around 10 other women in the airport detention centre. All were from different nationalities, and all caught for a forged passport or visa. One of them was also an INTCAS customer. She was from Tajikistan. She was crying vigorously, and her English wasn't good. She was only asking for help. We were detained there for 3 days. After that, we went for an interview with the airport police. An officer told me I got caught with a fake passport, and I will be deported back to Pakistan with a ban to enter Turkey for 5 years.
They returned my belongings and asked me to book the first flight back. Return to Pakistan I called Zakaria Mahmood immediately. I was screaming at him. There was no way I could hold back all the fury and devastation I had. He tried to calm me down. He promised that it is not a big deal and that he has people in Pakistan to take care of me. How could I argue? I had no choice. I was desperate, but I trusted him. Only now I understand what a fool I was. I was sent back to my country.
However, on my arrival, Pakistani police retained my passport and arrested me for immigration fraud. This was a lot worse than Turkey. Although, at least I had the chance to call my family. Much happened, but my family released me under a bail. My passport stayed with the police, and I am barred from leaving Pakistan for 3 years. Now, I have police records. My future is ruined. I called Zakaria Mahmood and all he is promising is another passport, so we can give it another try. But I am too scared. I will not do this thing again in my life. However, if there is anything I can make out of this experience, it is a warning.
Do not sign up for INTCAS, or any similar visa scamming company or group. This is a human trafficking Pakistani gang. This is passport forgery and immigration fraud. They lure people in with their bogus college and fake promises of a bright future. Learn from my experience and avoid them at any cost. I think it is vital for people like me to come forward and expose the crimes of INTCAS and Zakaria Mahmood. I genuinely hope Zakaria Mahmood reads this and will contact me soon. I want my money back. P.s. Please find the pictures of the passport and ID forged by INTCAS here. Passport: https://ibb.co/R9V9Sbr ID Card: https://ibb.co/hM9Fdv1
Recently, i have been seeing some news about intcas immigration fraud and visa scam. As an intcas victim, i also want to share my story here. It is a story of what seems too scary to be true. Yet, it is. It is a reality of a scam administered by a pakistani gang, of how a bogus college turned out to be human trafficking of asylum seekers, and of the mastermind of it all, zakaria mahmood.
My contact with intcas
My name is aisha, and i am a 22-year-old girl living in lahore. I was born in sheikhupura and went to university in lahore to study computer science. I always wanted to go abroad for a masters degree. After some research online, i found intcas. I contacted them, asking about the process of getting a student visa. In the beginning, everything seemed professional. However, i noticed that getting a student visa for the uk is not as easy as i hoped. It requires a lot of money and a high level of english. I had to get an ielts 7 along with around £30,000 to cover my tuition fee and living expenses for a year. On top of that, i had to add a flight cost and an english exam cost.
I told intcas staff that it is too expensive, and i want to defer it for later. However, they told me not to worry and that someone will contact me soon to discuss other opportunities. After two days, my phone rang. A person on the other end introduced himself as zakaria mahmood, the owner of intcas. He said that from my accent, he guesses i speak urdu. Then he switched to urdu, wanting me to trust him. He asked about my background and family. Then, about my goals after getting a masters. I told him that i just want to leave pakistan for good because i am young and i know i have no future here. Thus, i would love to live in britain.
Searching for a better future
Zakaria mahmood told me that under a student visa, i would not be able to work. Additionally, when my one-year visa expires, i have to return back to my own country. It wasn't a very good option for me. Having to spend £30,000 only to stay in britain for a year did not sound great. However, zakaria mahmood told me that he has a suggestion, given my background. He suggested seeking asylum in the uk, which was the first time i ever heard of it. I got slightly scared and asked how that was possible. He said that when i arrive, i will get a free house, free money paid to my bank account every week, and also free healthcare. He told me i also can become a british citizen in a few years. I was still worried and told him that i really don't know how this can work. He told me not to worry as he will do everything from a to z for £10,000.
After talking to my family, i decided to give this a try. Zakaria mahmood asked me to send him two different passport photos i had. After two weeks, someone from intcas called me and said to be ready for my trip. According to them, i was going to receive a parcel in a couple of days. After two days, i got a dhl mail at my door. When i opened it, there was one spanish passport and an id card. There was a spanish name but with my photo attached to it. I should have known then that this was a visa scam. I got scared and called zakaria mahmood in confusion. He told me to calm down. They had a good idea for me to land in london. Then, he explained to me the plan for the next 5 days…
Arrival in istanbul
I was ready for the flight. Intcas sent me a ticket, which was under my real name, to istanbul. In lahore airport, i showed my pakistani passport and boarded the plane. However, when i landed in istanbul, according to the plan, i showed my spanish passport. I was scared to death to be caught. I passed the border and got an entry stamp on my forged passport.
In turkey, a man from intcas was waiting for me. He got me a taxi, and we went to a guesthouse, which was a cheap hostel, in istanbul. The guests there were mainly pakistani men waiting for their flight. He told me to stay there for 3 days. I called zakaria mahmood and he suggested me to enjoy istanbul for a few days before my next flight. On the day of my flight to london, the same man from intcas took me to the airport. He didn't fill out an online check-in, so i had to go to the kiosk myself. A person at the kiosk asked me where i am flying to. “london,” i replied. He scanned my passport. It was a regular procedure, after all. Suddenly, his face changed and he told me to wait a minute. My heart sank with fear. But i held on. The kiosk guy came back with another, a slightly older, man. They scanned the passport again. I heard them talking in turkish. These were the most difficult moments of my life. I was terrified. They asked me to wait for another couple of minutes.
Arrested for fake passport
Then, my worries and anxieties became real. I felt that trouble was coming, and quickly. Two armed police officers came. The airline staff told me that they found out my passport to be fake. They had no choice but to hand me over to the border police. I started crying and couldn't speak, fear and emotion engulfing me. I got arrested. The police officers led me to a detention room. They took all my belongings, including my phone. I was not allowed to even talk to my family.
There were around 10 other women in the airport detention centre. All were from different nationalities, and all caught for a forged passport or visa. One of them was also an intcas customer. She was from tajikistan. She was crying vigorously, and her english wasn't good. She was only asking for help. We were detained there for 3 days. After that, we went for an interview with the airport police. An officer told me i got caught with a fake passport, and i will be deported back to pakistan with a ban to enter turkey for 5 years. They returned my belongings and asked me to book the first flight back.
Return to pakistan
I called zakaria mahmood immediately. I was screaming at him. There was no way i could hold back all the fury and devastation i had. He tried to calm me down. He promised that it is not a big deal and that he has people in pakistan to take care of me. How could i argue? I had no choice. I was desperate, but i trusted him. Only now i understand what a fool i was. I was sent back to my country. However, on my arrival, pakistani police retained my passport and arrested me for immigration fraud. This was a lot worse than turkey. Although, at least i had the chance to call my family.
Much happened, but my family released me under a bail. My passport stayed with the police, and i am barred from leaving pakistan for 3 years. Now, i have police records. My future is ruined. I called zakaria mahmood and all he is promising is another passport, so we can give it another try. But i am too scared. I will not do this thing again in my life. However, if there is anything i can make out of this experience, it is a warning. Do not sign up for intcas, or any similar visa scamming company or group. This is a human trafficking pakistani gang. This is passport forgery and immigration fraud. They lure people in with their bogus college and fake promises of a bright future. Learn from my experience and avoid them at any cost. I think it is vital for people like me to come forward and expose the crimes of intcas and zakaria mahmood.
I genuinely hope zakaria mahmood reads this and will contact me soon. I want my money back.
P.S. Please find the pictures of the passport and id forged by intcas here.
INTCAS Reviews
Why I resigned from INTCAS after five years of forging documents and processing sham student visas MY NAME IS Raj Ahmed. I am in the middle of a fallout with my former friend Zakaria Mahmood on INTCAS multiple immigration frauds and visa forgeries. An irreparable fallout it seems, given his insistence to go on running INTCAS as it has been running for the last five years.
He wants us to keep at it, "for just a little longer,” he says. According to him, we are doing great, which, to some degree, is true. But I cannot do this anymore. It has been five years and I just handed in a formal resignation. Unfortunately, none of INTCAS management and shareholders is aware of this situation and this is what has been hidden from the INTCAS board.
Zakaria Mahmood, of course, wouldn’t hear of it and had asked to meet me immediately. Here’s why I am leaving this lucrative job: You see, every young person now yearns to add a multi-cultural dimension to their studies, careers, or their lives.
They want to be more world-ready and better prepared for a globalized corporate world. Because they are keen to go across their home borders for an education or a livelihood, they often land in the hand of a college recruiter.
Recruitment agents such as Zakaria Mahmood and myself. For close to five years, Zakaria Mahmood and I have been recruiting students to the UK. Hundreds of 'students’ by this time. Only, the students are not really students. They come to work and stay in the UK. Normally, you just don’t move into a new country, and start over, and settle down. Certainly not the UK. But with Zakaria Mahmood and INTCAS, all things were possible.
For the past five years, INTCAS (initially Sinclair Adamson Business School), was based in East London (and then moved to Croydon), could loophole any legal barriers and help anyone secure a visa in the UK. That is, anyone who could come up with the fee. Word got around pretty fast in first year of operations, especially within the Asian communities. At some point, we seemed to be solely focused on helping our countrymen in Pakistan.
Zakaria Mahmood would at times allude to the fact that we’re doing a world of good for people by helping them get a livelihood in the UK. Zakaria Mahmood and I were originally from Pakistan, from Rawalpindi and Taxila respectively, even though we met in London. I first ran into Zakaria Mahmood about eight years earlier, during a Pakistani cultural night. He’d gone to Kings College with my cousin Waqar and had just set up an organization called Sinclair Adamson Business School in 2011 which offered various support services to international students.
They rebranded a few years later to AMPLAS and then finally to INTCAS. I’d just completed my studies and was due to head back to Pakistan in about 6 months. So, when Zakaria Mahmood offered a temporary job at the agency, I naturally jumped at the opportunity. Two months into the job, I received one of several 'perks’ of the job. On condition that I commit myself to the job, Zakaria Mahmood helped me to secure a work visa extension. But as it would quickly turn out, it was not just a job 'perk,’ it was a live demonstration of the kind of services we would be providing for many immigrants who were already in the UK and others from Pakistan and other parts of the world.
Later, we would haul in 'students’ from Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran and even Nigeria. So, this is the simplified version of how it worked; to secure a genuine TIER 4 student visa in the UK, one needs to take an English test (TOEIC), have a bank statement as proof of support (since non-EU students are not allowed to work), and a genuine letter of admission from a recognized college institution. At the time, the UK Home Office had to process nearly 500,000 visas every year, about half of which are student visas.
There were bound to be cracks and loopholes in the system. These cracks and loopholes became the foundations of INTCAS. "Neat and clean” or "process-oriented” Zakaria Mahmood would always say, "and everybody goes home happy” he would add. Zakaria Mahmood had a charm that seemed to pacify even the most stubborn conscience. A few weeks spent around him, and you would be ready to lie with the Bible on your right hand and the Quran in your left hand.
Within a year, I had become one of his trusted employees though there were only five of us, including Zakaria Mahmood. By the second year, I was only reporting to him and I was pretty much running the office. To secure a visa, the first step was to take an English test, that is, the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). This is an absolute requirement for students who come from countries that don’t have English as their first language, which is pretty much three-quarters of all the countries in the world. But at INTCAS, we could just about guarantee a successful test to anyone who didn’t speak a word English.
For about £750, we could arrange for someone to take the test on behalf of our client. We’d bypass any surveillance or scrutiny and ensure our clients passed any ETS exams. A few days later, they would get an original certificate from TOEIC, a body approved by the UKBA. TOEIC is one of the most trusted English testing bodies, and which runs nearly fifty million tests around the world each year. Of course, one needs more than an English certificate to live and study in the UK.
You first need an academic background, which we could provide in case our you didn’t have one. This would normally be a bogus, lower level college or even high school certificate. Next in line, one needed an admission letter to a recognized college, and which Zakaria Mahmood could obtain with relative ease through INTCAS. In fact, we even afforded the students the luxury of choosing from a select list of A-grade or B-grade college institutions. This, of course, was a bogus admission letter (from the colleges close to getting shut down for immigration breaches) and our clients only had to attend the institution once a month or so, or not at all in most cases.
Finally, every applicant had to produce proof of sustenance in the form of a bank statement showing sufficient funds. Therefore, students would, bring in their original bank statements with just a few pounds in them and collect another statement showing several thousand pounds. "Look! We have made you instantly rich!” we would often tease our clients as we presented the new bogus bank statement to them. Each year, nine out of ten of our walk-in clients, who were not really "walk-in clients” as they had been recommended by previous clients, were clear that they wanted to stay in the UK.
Most of them were men with an Asian background from 25 to 40 years old. They wanted a visa so that they could work illegally. "Until I figure out something in the future,” they would often say. Zakaria Mahmood was, of course, extremely ambitious and with an entrepreneurial bent. Having spent a long time in London, he knew only too well about the great demand for visa processing support services. Zakaria Mahmood, with his vehicle INTCAS, stepped in seeking to meet this demand, knowing how lucrative it could get. He was right.
We’d sometimes collect as much as £7,000 in fees from one client. Naturally, Zakaria Mahmood sought to expand the business. So, we got agents in Pakistan and Turkey who’d help recruit 'students’ who wanted to come to the UK. The scrutiny and the systems back in Pakistan were, of course, nothing compared to the ones in the UK. Therefore, Zakaria Mahmood and INTCAS had an eye for the bottom line and seemed to favour the lowest costs of doing business.
We even used fake passports and visa stamps, which were cheaper to acquire, and sometimes did not even bother with original documents, preferring to bribe our way through all the potential hurdles. I’ll never forget one our clients, a miss Kiran Chowdhury who phoned the office late one afternoon, frantically asking for Zakaria Mahmood. She said she had been given the contact by one of INTCAS agents in Pakistan, and that she had to speak to Zakaria Mahmood as a matter of urgency.
Zakaria Mahmood would later inform me that she had been arrested at Lahore International Airport with a fake passport and that "it was her fault, that woman”. According to him, she had not followed all the instructions and that "she deserved it”. That kind of aloofness and detachment would make my stomach turn. But I knew better than to make further enquiries. All payments and fees had to be made in advance. And INTCAS had almost no refunds policy if the clients got caught.
Zakaria Mahmood would always say that we had to be fully compensated for our efforts and for the risk. "Look, Raj, just where are you going to go, mate? We are doing pretty good here,” Zakaria Mahmood was saying before I left the office. "See, we are straightening everything. Soon enough we’ll clean up every mess,” he says, referring to the small efforts to offer legitimate services. These, of course, were often eclipsed with all our bogus dealings.
What he couldn’t come out and say to my face, and that we both knew to be the absolute truth, was the fact that the few legitimate things we’d done were just cover-ups. They were the nice, shining coat that covered the rot on the inside of the organization. Five years is quite a long time to reawaken a conscience, and which even Zakaria Mahmood alluded, but I couldn’t bring myself to work another day at INTCAS.
In the last two years, I had secretly followed up on a few of our clients. While most of them got absorbed in the system, some of them were not quite lucky. They faced immigration violation charges, deportation and led lives of quiet desperation. I had almost a year to go on my visa and would have to decide my next course of action. But it would certainly not be with INTCAS.
Why Am I Writing My Story? Recently, I have been seeing some news about INTCAS immigration fraud and visa scam. As an INTCAS victim, I also want to share my story here. It is a story of what seems too scary to be true. Yet, it is. It is a reality of a scam administered by a Pakistani gang, of how a bogus college turned out to be human trafficking of asylum seekers, and of the mastermind of it all, Zakaria Mahmood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZO6wAwYwM
My Contact with INTCAS My name is Aisha, and I am a 22-year-old girl living in Lahore. I was born in Sheikhupura and went to university in Lahore to study computer science. I always wanted to go abroad for a Masters degree. After some research online, I found INTCAS. I contacted them, asking about the process of getting a student visa. In the beginning, everything seemed professional.
However, I noticed that getting a student visa for the UK is not as easy as I hoped.
It requires a lot of money and a high level of English. I had to get an IELTS 7 along with around £30,000 to cover my tuition fee and living expenses for a year. On top of that, I had to add a flight cost and an English exam cost. I told INTCAS staff that it is too expensive, and I want to defer it for later. However, they told me not to worry and that someone will contact me soon to discuss other opportunities. After two days, my phone rang.
A person on the other end introduced himself as Zakaria Mahmood, the owner of INTCAS. He said that from my accent, he guesses I speak Urdu. Then he switched to Urdu, wanting me to trust him. He asked about my background and family. Then, about my goals after getting a Masters. I told him that I just want to leave Pakistan for good because I am young and I know I have no future here. Thus, I would love to live in Britain.
Searching for a Better Future Zakaria Mahmood told me that under a student visa, I would not be able to work. Additionally, when my one-year visa expires, I have to return back to my own country. It wasn't a very good option for me. Having to spend £30,000 only to stay in Britain for a year did not sound great. However, Zakaria Mahmood told me that he has a suggestion, given my background. He suggested seeking asylum in the UK, which was the first time I ever heard of it. I got slightly scared and asked how that was possible.
He said that when I arrive, I will get a free house, free money paid to my bank account every week, and also free healthcare. He told me I also can become a British citizen in a few years. I was still worried and told him that I really don't know how this can work. He told me not to worry as he will do everything from A to Z for £10,000. After talking to my family, I decided to give this a try. Zakaria Mahmood asked me to send him two different passport photos I had. After two weeks, someone from INTCAS called me and said to be ready for my trip.
According to them, I was going to receive a parcel in a couple of days. After two days, I got a DHL mail at my door. When I opened it, there was one Spanish passport and an ID card. There was a Spanish name but with my photo attached to it. I should have known then that this was a visa scam. I got scared and called Zakaria Mahmood in confusion. He told me to calm down. They had a good idea for me to land in London. Then, he explained to me the plan for the next 5 days… Arrival in Istanbul I was ready for the flight.
INTCAS sent me a ticket, which was under my real name, to Istanbul. In Lahore airport, I showed my Pakistani passport and boarded the plane. However, when I landed in Istanbul, according to the plan, I showed my Spanish passport. I was scared to death to be caught. I passed the border and got an entry stamp on my forged passport. In Turkey, a man from INTCAS was waiting for me. He got me a taxi, and we went to a guesthouse, which was a cheap hostel, in Istanbul. The guests there were mainly Pakistani men waiting for their flight. He told me to stay there for 3 days.
I called Zakaria Mahmood and he suggested me to enjoy Istanbul for a few days before my next flight. On the day of my flight to London, the same man from INTCAS took me to the airport. He didn't fill out an online check-in, so I had to go to the kiosk myself. A person at the kiosk asked me where I am flying to. "London,” I replied. He scanned my passport. It was a regular procedure, after all. Suddenly, his face changed and he told me to wait a minute. My heart sank with fear. But I held on. The kiosk guy came back with another, a slightly older, man. They scanned the passport again. I heard them talking in Turkish.
These were the most difficult moments of my life. I was terrified. They asked me to wait for another couple of minutes. Arrested for Fake Passport Then, my worries and anxieties became real. I felt that trouble was coming, and quickly. Two armed police officers came. The airline staff told me that they found out my passport to be fake. They had no choice but to hand me over to the border police. I started crying and couldn't speak, fear and emotion engulfing me. I got arrested. The police officers led me to a detention room.
They took all my belongings, including my phone. I was not allowed to even talk to my family. There were around 10 other women in the airport detention centre. All were from different nationalities, and all caught for a forged passport or visa. One of them was also an INTCAS customer. She was from Tajikistan. She was crying vigorously, and her English wasn't good. She was only asking for help. We were detained there for 3 days. After that, we went for an interview with the airport police. An officer told me I got caught with a fake passport, and I will be deported back to Pakistan with a ban to enter Turkey for 5 years.
They returned my belongings and asked me to book the first flight back. Return to Pakistan I called Zakaria Mahmood immediately. I was screaming at him. There was no way I could hold back all the fury and devastation I had. He tried to calm me down. He promised that it is not a big deal and that he has people in Pakistan to take care of me. How could I argue? I had no choice. I was desperate, but I trusted him. Only now I understand what a fool I was. I was sent back to my country.
However, on my arrival, Pakistani police retained my passport and arrested me for immigration fraud. This was a lot worse than Turkey. Although, at least I had the chance to call my family. Much happened, but my family released me under a bail. My passport stayed with the police, and I am barred from leaving Pakistan for 3 years. Now, I have police records. My future is ruined. I called Zakaria Mahmood and all he is promising is another passport, so we can give it another try. But I am too scared. I will not do this thing again in my life. However, if there is anything I can make out of this experience, it is a warning.
Do not sign up for INTCAS, or any similar visa scamming company or group. This is a human trafficking Pakistani gang. This is passport forgery and immigration fraud. They lure people in with their bogus college and fake promises of a bright future. Learn from my experience and avoid them at any cost. I think it is vital for people like me to come forward and expose the crimes of INTCAS and Zakaria Mahmood. I genuinely hope Zakaria Mahmood reads this and will contact me soon. I want my money back. P.s. Please find the pictures of the passport and ID forged by INTCAS here. Passport: https://ibb.co/R9V9Sbr ID Card: https://ibb.co/hM9Fdv1
Intcas ruins lives by fake passport and immigration fraud
A recent intcas victim, aisha, share her horrific story on pakistani human trafficking gang intcas
Https://www.Youtube.com/watch?V=bzzo6wawywm&feature=youtu.Be
Why am i writing my story?
Recently, i have been seeing some news about intcas immigration fraud and visa scam. As an intcas victim, i also want to share my story here. It is a story of what seems too scary to be true. Yet, it is. It is a reality of a scam administered by a pakistani gang, of how a bogus college turned out to be human trafficking of asylum seekers, and of the mastermind of it all, zakaria mahmood.
My contact with intcas
My name is aisha, and i am a 22-year-old girl living in lahore. I was born in sheikhupura and went to university in lahore to study computer science. I always wanted to go abroad for a masters degree. After some research online, i found intcas. I contacted them, asking about the process of getting a student visa. In the beginning, everything seemed professional. However, i noticed that getting a student visa for the uk is not as easy as i hoped. It requires a lot of money and a high level of english. I had to get an ielts 7 along with around £30,000 to cover my tuition fee and living expenses for a year. On top of that, i had to add a flight cost and an english exam cost.
I told intcas staff that it is too expensive, and i want to defer it for later. However, they told me not to worry and that someone will contact me soon to discuss other opportunities. After two days, my phone rang. A person on the other end introduced himself as zakaria mahmood, the owner of intcas. He said that from my accent, he guesses i speak urdu. Then he switched to urdu, wanting me to trust him. He asked about my background and family. Then, about my goals after getting a masters. I told him that i just want to leave pakistan for good because i am young and i know i have no future here. Thus, i would love to live in britain.
Searching for a better future
Zakaria mahmood told me that under a student visa, i would not be able to work. Additionally, when my one-year visa expires, i have to return back to my own country. It wasn't a very good option for me. Having to spend £30,000 only to stay in britain for a year did not sound great. However, zakaria mahmood told me that he has a suggestion, given my background. He suggested seeking asylum in the uk, which was the first time i ever heard of it. I got slightly scared and asked how that was possible. He said that when i arrive, i will get a free house, free money paid to my bank account every week, and also free healthcare. He told me i also can become a british citizen in a few years. I was still worried and told him that i really don't know how this can work. He told me not to worry as he will do everything from a to z for £10,000.
After talking to my family, i decided to give this a try. Zakaria mahmood asked me to send him two different passport photos i had. After two weeks, someone from intcas called me and said to be ready for my trip. According to them, i was going to receive a parcel in a couple of days. After two days, i got a dhl mail at my door. When i opened it, there was one spanish passport and an id card. There was a spanish name but with my photo attached to it. I should have known then that this was a visa scam. I got scared and called zakaria mahmood in confusion. He told me to calm down. They had a good idea for me to land in london. Then, he explained to me the plan for the next 5 days…
Arrival in istanbul
I was ready for the flight. Intcas sent me a ticket, which was under my real name, to istanbul. In lahore airport, i showed my pakistani passport and boarded the plane. However, when i landed in istanbul, according to the plan, i showed my spanish passport. I was scared to death to be caught. I passed the border and got an entry stamp on my forged passport.
In turkey, a man from intcas was waiting for me. He got me a taxi, and we went to a guesthouse, which was a cheap hostel, in istanbul. The guests there were mainly pakistani men waiting for their flight. He told me to stay there for 3 days. I called zakaria mahmood and he suggested me to enjoy istanbul for a few days before my next flight. On the day of my flight to london, the same man from intcas took me to the airport. He didn't fill out an online check-in, so i had to go to the kiosk myself. A person at the kiosk asked me where i am flying to. “london,” i replied. He scanned my passport. It was a regular procedure, after all. Suddenly, his face changed and he told me to wait a minute. My heart sank with fear. But i held on. The kiosk guy came back with another, a slightly older, man. They scanned the passport again. I heard them talking in turkish. These were the most difficult moments of my life. I was terrified. They asked me to wait for another couple of minutes.
Arrested for fake passport
Then, my worries and anxieties became real. I felt that trouble was coming, and quickly. Two armed police officers came. The airline staff told me that they found out my passport to be fake. They had no choice but to hand me over to the border police. I started crying and couldn't speak, fear and emotion engulfing me. I got arrested. The police officers led me to a detention room. They took all my belongings, including my phone. I was not allowed to even talk to my family.
There were around 10 other women in the airport detention centre. All were from different nationalities, and all caught for a forged passport or visa. One of them was also an intcas customer. She was from tajikistan. She was crying vigorously, and her english wasn't good. She was only asking for help. We were detained there for 3 days. After that, we went for an interview with the airport police. An officer told me i got caught with a fake passport, and i will be deported back to pakistan with a ban to enter turkey for 5 years. They returned my belongings and asked me to book the first flight back.
Return to pakistan
I called zakaria mahmood immediately. I was screaming at him. There was no way i could hold back all the fury and devastation i had. He tried to calm me down. He promised that it is not a big deal and that he has people in pakistan to take care of me. How could i argue? I had no choice. I was desperate, but i trusted him. Only now i understand what a fool i was. I was sent back to my country. However, on my arrival, pakistani police retained my passport and arrested me for immigration fraud. This was a lot worse than turkey. Although, at least i had the chance to call my family.
Much happened, but my family released me under a bail. My passport stayed with the police, and i am barred from leaving pakistan for 3 years. Now, i have police records. My future is ruined. I called zakaria mahmood and all he is promising is another passport, so we can give it another try. But i am too scared. I will not do this thing again in my life. However, if there is anything i can make out of this experience, it is a warning. Do not sign up for intcas, or any similar visa scamming company or group. This is a human trafficking pakistani gang. This is passport forgery and immigration fraud. They lure people in with their bogus college and fake promises of a bright future. Learn from my experience and avoid them at any cost. I think it is vital for people like me to come forward and expose the crimes of intcas and zakaria mahmood.
I genuinely hope zakaria mahmood reads this and will contact me soon. I want my money back.
P.S. Please find the pictures of the passport and id forged by intcas here.
Passport: https://ibb.Co/r9v9sbr
Id card: https://ibb.Co/hm9fdv1