Scam Secrets
It might look like a perfectly ordinary message. It could come from someone you thought you trusted. Or it could be a phone call that catches you off guard. Whatever the method, the goal is the same. They want your money.But if you know their secrets, you can spot the red flags before it is too late.Shari Vahl, who has investigated fraud for the BBC for 20 years, is joined by the criminologist and forensic linguist, Dr Elisabeth Carter, and Alex Wood - a former criminal who now tries to stop scams - to dissect the shadiest techniques criminals...
Episodes
Hello Mum? I Can't Hear You
Your phone pings - it's a loved one who needs your help. Would you know what to do?Lots of us have received the 'Hello Mum' text - sometimes it's dead easy to spot. But what if the circumstances fit, and they catch you completely unawares?I…
Would You Like This Piano?
Who could resist the offer of a free grand piano? Or a remarkably cheap campervan? Just as long as you pay for delivery - but that's a small price to pay, right?This episode of Scam Secrets is about those times when you're offered something…
Investment Scam: The Crypto Coach
A trusted celeb seems to be promoting a crypto investment. Would you know what to do?In this episode of Scam Secrets, Shari Vahl, Dr Elisabeth Carter and former criminal Alex Wood hear how an apparent endorsement from a trusted celebrity pa…
Fake Company In Your House
A letter arrives at your home - addressed to a company you've never heard of. Would you know what to do?Criminals are registering companies at innocent people's addresses at a shocking scale - sometimes covering an entire street at a time. …
The Great Knitted Cardigan Scam
You've spotted a nice cardigan on social media - the website looks legit. So you buy one. It doesn't feel like a scam...In this episode, Shari Vahl and the Scam Secrets regulars - Dr Lis Carter and Alex Wood - unravel a global scam that rel…
Dating Fraud: Don't Worry, I'm Rich
You've met someone online. You chat every night and it's going well - but then they need your help. Would you know what to do?Romance fraud cost people more than £400m last year - and that's just the cases that were reported.In this episode…
'I'm Calling from Your Bank'
Your bank is on the phone. The man knows all your details. He says there's a problem on your account. Would you know what to do?Scam Secrets is the new series lifting the lid on the techniques criminals use to steal your money.BBC reporter …
Introducing… Scam Secrets
Criminals will try anything to steal your money - but if you know their techniques, you can see the scams coming. In this series, BBC fraud reporter Shari Vahl analyses some of the most shocking scams she's covered, dissecting how they wo…