About this podcast
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 use to steal your cash.
In each episode, they dig deep into a different scam, with first-hand accounts from the people targeted, forensic analysis of the techniques and mind games being used - and even secret recordings of the scammers themselves.
Got a scam you want us to investigate? Email the team: [email protected]
Episodes
The newest 20 of 32 episodes
- The 'Money Back' Scam · 28 minBeing scammed once can be a devastating, life-changing experience. But the criminals we hear about on Scam Secrets don't care about that. They'll often come back for more, with…
- Mobile Handset Fraud · 28 minBeing sent a shiny new phone when you weren't expecting one sounds great - but it most likely isn't. In this episode, the Scam Secrets team investigate mobile handset fraud - a…
- The Power of Your Email · 28 minWhat's the name of your first pet? If a question like that holds the key to your email inbox, it might be time to beef up your security. In this episode, Shari Vahl, Dr Lis…
- How to Help Someone Who's Being Scammed · 29 minYour relative is in the grip of a scam. You can see it - but they can't. Would you know what to do? It's a situation you never want to find yourself in. And if you do, it can be…
- QR Code Scams · 28 minDo you scan QR codes? Since Covid, they've become embedded in many aspects of our lives. But perhaps we're a bit too trusting of them. On this episode, Shari Vahl, Dr Lis Carter…
- Inside Report Fraud · 29 minWhat really happens when you report a scam? In this special episode, Shari takes a trip behind the scenes at the fraud reporting service for England, Wales and Northern Ireland…
- The Customer Complaints Scam · 29 minHave you ever been desperately trying to contact a company to complain about shoddy service? Or needed to cut through the automated responses and speak to a human who can help?…
- How To Spot A Deepfake · 28 minScam Secrets is back with a close look at deepfakes. Lots of the stories we hear involve victims being lured into scams by fake videos or photos of trusted people. Shari Vahl, Dr…
- The Instagram Takeover Scam · 28 minAn old friend is posting about how well his investments are doing - and he's offering you the chance to get involved too. Would you know what to do? In this final episode of the…
- The Knock at the Door · 28 minA roofer's at your door - they've spotted a couple of loose tiles and they can fix them straight away. It's only a quick job. Would you know what to do? Almost all of the scams…
- The Trial Shift Scam · 29 minA group of young jobseekers are gathered outside a dental surgery in West London, nervously waiting for a trial shift for the job they've just applied for. But as time ticks on…
- The Customer Service Returns Scam · 28 minIf you buy from a website that turns out to be fake and run by criminals, your first thought is probably about the money you've parted with. But that's not all they're after…
- The Podcast Scam · 28 minYou've been invited onto a well-known podcast (not this one). They'll even pay you to take part. Would you know what to do? Shari Vahl, Alex Wood and Dr Lis Carter unravel an…
- The Booking.com Scam · 28 minYou've booked a holiday and the hotel gets in touch to ask for a payment to confirm your booking. They know your name and they've got all the details of your reservation. Would…
- Behind the Fake Profiles · 28 minWhether we're chatting, texting, buying or dating, the tech services we all use are being abused by criminals to worm their way into our lives. So what are these huge businesses…
- Following the Trail · 28 minA message pops up. It's a scam, you can spot that. But who sent it? Where in the world did it come from? And how has it ended up in your inbox? For this special episode of Scam…
- Please Call Me · 28 minScam Secrets is back with a close look at a disturbing and emerging scam technique that can totally clean out its victims. In a hybrid scam - or pig butchering, as the criminals…
- Could You Grab Me Some Gift Cards? · 28 minIt's coming up to Christmas, and you might have gift cards on your mind. The perfect present choice for many scenarios - but also the perfect weapon for criminals. In 2023…
- The WhatsApp Takeover · 28 minWhatsApp is part of our daily lives – and criminals know how to weaponise that trust. In this episode, Shari Vahl and the team hear how a devastatingly simple trick handed the…
- We've Noticed Your CV · 28 minYou might be on the lookout for work - so when a message arrives with a job offer, the timing is perfect. This is what happens to the people who are drawn in by the fake…
