LONDON — A woman from Britain confessed on Tuesday to using disguises, including wigs, to unlawfully take the U.K. citizenship test on behalf of over a dozen foreign nationals.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court, 61-year-old Josephine Maurice pleaded guilty to committing fraud by taking the Life in the U.K. Test for 13 individuals, both men and women.
Between June 2022 and August 2023, she utilized a variety of wigs and other disguises to impersonate the real applicants, as confirmed by the Home Office.
“This case involves an individual who is believed to have carefully planned to avoid detection,” mentioned Philip Parr, an enforcement officer for the Home Office immigration. “She carefully chose disguises and test centers across various locations to dodge the authorities. Like many involved in this kind of crime, it’s presumed her primary motive was monetary gain.”
The Life in the U.K. Test consists of 24 questions that assess applicants’ understanding of British history, society, and values, which is a requirement for obtaining permanent residency or citizenship.
Maurice, who did not physically appear in court but participated via video link from Bronzefield Prison, also confessed to plotting with others to commit fraud and to being in possession of two provisional driver’s licenses belonging to other individuals.
Her sentencing has been scheduled for May 20.
