People smugglers offering ‘money back’ guarantees

Smuggling gangs are negotiating ‘‘money back’’ guarantees to migrants on social media, as the numbers reaching the UK across the Channel passed 1000 since Monday. People traffickers are continuing to use social media platforms to promote their services despite demands by ministers and police chiefs for the social media firms to take down such posts. The advertisements are available online for two or three days before being removed by the traffickers after they have filled their boats. In one, a migrant going by the name of Abdelrahman AbdElshafy said he would pay for passage from Egypt but under a ‘‘warranty’’ that the money would not be handed over until he arrived.