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A large group of Indian men gained entry to Ireland by posing as a fake film crew.

They were granted official work visas, but quickly fled to the UK where they have now "disappeared".

Gardai have launched a major investigation into the scam, which sounds remarkably similar to Oscar winning film Argo, where US hostages escaped Iran in a similar way.

According to the Irish Daily Mail, the group of 26 flew from Cork to Glasgow soon after arriving in Ireland.

While in recent weeks, another group tried to do the same but were stopped by immigration in Delhi and prevented from boarding their flight to Dublin Airport.

(Image: Collins)

A source told the newspaper: "This is essentially an elaborate scam. These men have disappeared after they manipulated the immigration system.

"It was a clever and well thought out plan securing work visas on the basis of coming here to shoot a movie. They duped everyone.

"Gardai are wise to their scam now and they won't get though again.

"We have already stopped another large group. Gardai suspect they have probably done this in other countries as well."

The Garda National Immigration Bureau have launched an investigation into the matter.