- Fake cards are advertised from about £350; a genuine card can cost from £58.50.
- CITB revoked 863 fraudulent cards in 2024 and 112 more from January to September 2025.
- Four test centres were terminated and two suspended in 2025.
- CITB's fraud team handled over 2,200 incidents in three years.
What is being sold
Sellers advertise fake CSCS cards on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Instagram and dedicated sites. They target migrants and people who do not speak English and claim the card “bypasses security checks”. Reported prices run from about £350 for a basic card to around £400 for a blue Skilled Worker card, six to seven times the legitimate cost of £58.50, according to a local news report on CITB's figures published on 30 January 2026.
How it unfolds
- A worker sees an advert on a marketplace or social platform promising a card with no test.
- The seller asks for payment and personal details.
- Either the card never arrives (the advance-fee version, which the JIB says is the most common type of card fraud), or a counterfeit arrives.
- At the next site, a gate scan on Smart Check shows no matching genuine record.
- The worker is refused access and may lose the job.
What the seller promises, and what the real route requires
| Promise | Real CSCS route |
|---|---|
| Card in days, no test | The appropriate CITB health, safety and environment test must be passed |
| Any card type you like | 13 card types on the CSCS site, each tied to a qualification or role |
| £350 to £400 | From £58.50, as cited by the local news report |
| Will pass any check | Smart Check verifies all 2.3 million genuine cards |
| Apply via a seller | My CSCS app or the CSCS Online portal at cscsonline.uk.com |
What the authorities are finding
- CITB revoked 863 fraudulent cards in 2024 and 112 more in the first nine months of 2025.
- Four test centres were terminated and two suspended in 2025.
- CITB's fraud team handled more than 2,200 incidents over three years.
Prosecutions
A man from Nuneaton who sold fake CSCS, CPCS and ECS cards online for up to £30.99 each was prosecuted by Warwickshire Trading Standards and jailed for three years and eight months at Warwick Crown Court. CSCS was also awarded £6,000 damages for copyright infringement. A separate gang in London was jailed after selling fake documents including CSCS cards at around £200.
Consequences
| Type | What can follow |
|---|---|
| Legal | Fraud and forgery offences can apply (see UK law on fake documents); sellers have been jailed |
| Practical | Money lost, usually with no refund route |
| Work | Refusal at the gate, and revocation if CITB refers a card |
| Identity | Passport or ID details given to a seller can be misused |
| Safety | CSCS says its cards give a basic level of assurance that workers understand common risks; a fake removes that |
If you were offered one or already paid
- Do not send more money or ID.
- Tell your bank and keep the advert, account and payment records.
- Report the seller through the fraud section of cscs.uk.com, and to the platform that hosted the advert.
- Apply for the real card: pass the CITB test and apply through the My CSCS app or CSCS Online.
Cards that were obtained through a fraudulent test can also be revoked: see test centre fraud. The types are in CSCS card types.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fake CSCS cards cost?
Reported prices start around £350, against a genuine cost from £58.50.
How many fraudulent CSCS cards have been revoked?
CITB revoked 863 in 2024 and 112 in January to September 2025.
Can a fake CSCS card be detected?
Yes. Smart Check verifies cards against the register, and a fake does not appear on it.
Where are fake CSCS cards sold?
Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Instagram and dedicated websites, according to the local report citing CITB.
How do I get a genuine CSCS card?
Pass the appropriate CITB health, safety and environment test and apply through the My CSCS app or the CSCS Online portal.
Who do I report a fake card seller to?
Use the fraud reporting section of the CSCS website. For ECS cards, email feedback@ecscard.org.uk.