Our dedicated week-long initiative will bring together efforts from across the Â鶹ԼÅÄ to provide people with the tools they need to protect themselves and start that national conversation. With our expertise and diverse platforms, we are uniquely positioned to engage and empower audiences against getting deceived by scams.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural initiative, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scam Safe is back. Starting on 23 November, Scam Safe week will feature content from across the Â鶹ԼÅÄ including TV, radio, iPlayer, Sounds and online. With scammers growing bolder amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the Â鶹ԼÅÄ aims to provide a timely piece of public service into the rising fraud industry. The special week of programming is designed to spotlight what viewers can do to protect themselves and those they love from being scammed.
The Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore says: “With fraud now making up over 40% of all crime in the UK, raising public awareness is more important than ever and we’ve created a whole week where the Â鶹ԼÅÄ can be a one-stop shop for information, interaction and audiences can immerse themselves in all things scams.â€
“At the Â鶹ԼÅÄ, we lead the fight against disinformation, driven by our unwavering commitment to seeking the truth. Our dedicated week-long initiative will bring together efforts from across the Â鶹ԼÅÄ to provide people with the tools they need to protect themselves and start that national conversation. With our expertise and diverse platforms, we are uniquely positioned to engage and empower audiences against getting deceived by scams.â€
All of the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s scam-related content will be accessible through the Scam Safe website (www.bbc.co.uk/scamsafe) and promoted across the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s social media platforms throughout the week using the hashtag #Â鶹ԼÅÄScamSafe.
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Programming information
TV & Â鶹ԼÅÄ iPlayer
Â鶹ԼÅÄ One and Â鶹ԼÅÄ Two
Scam Interceptors
The 2024 TV-BAFTA winning series Scam Interceptors will release its latest run of episodes. Hosts Rav Wilding and Nick Stapleton join up with ethical hacker Jim Browning as they continue to hold unscrupulous scammers to account from Scam Interceptors HQ in Glasgow.
These brand-new episodes, produced in partnership with The Open University, will showcase the team’s sophisticated strategies to intercept scam calls. And if they can’t reach the victim by phone, the Ground Interceptor team are on hand ready to drive direct to their homes to stop the scam in person.
Scam Interceptors will air weekdays at 2pm on Â鶹ԼÅÄ One during Scam Safe Week from 23 November, with the series launching on Monday 18 November available to watch on Â鶹ԼÅÄ iPlayer.
Morning Live
Morning Live will have a full schedule of scam-related content, including being live from the Scam Safe Roadshow across the UK each day. New for 2024 and held in venues from Cardiff to Cumbria, The Scam Safe Roadshow is a collaboration between Morning Live and Â鶹ԼÅÄ Local radio aiming to provide answers to audience members’ questions about scams they’ve seen, been caught out by. They will also deliver advice on how to avoid being scammed. On Black Friday, 29 November, the roadshow will be coming live from Manchester, and Morning Live will focus on purchasing scams.
The roadshows are being delivered in partnership with the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scam Safe partners: Stop Scams UK, Age UK, Age Cymru, NASMA (the National Association of Student Money Advisers) and The Open University. They will feature representatives from major high street banks, advisors from local university student finance teams, Age UK scam advisors and cyber experts from local police forces.
Morning Live fraud experts Matt Allwright, Rav Wilding, Rebecca Wilcox and Nick Stapleton will be on hand in studio all week and delivering special reports offering crucial consumer advice.
There will be in-depth feature pieces will include police raid footage catching scammers in the act, an exclusive interview with an ex romance scammer, an exposé of fraudulent high street charity collectors, and advice on avoiding the dangers of public Wi-Fi networks.
Following the success of last year, Morning Live will also be once again distributing stickers to people to remind them to be Scam Safe. Last year’s ‘Stick It to The Scammers’ initiative distributed 40,000 stickers to people’s homes. This year stickers will be available via post and at the Roadshows. Digital stickers will also be available to download. Physical stickers will be distributed directly to the audience by post to act as visual reminders to stop and think if contacted out of the blue and will also be available at roadshows across the UK.
The programme will also be asking audience members and famous faces to share their scam stories, and make the point that there is no shame in being scammed and to encourage others to share their stories.
Morning Live Scam Safe content will run throughout the week from 9.30am to 10.45am on Â鶹ԼÅÄ One and iPlayer from Monday 25 November.
Sunday Morning Live
In the last episode of their current series Sunday Morning Live will take a look at the way scammers target people's core values and beliefs with some tips on how to avoid being scammed.
The One Show
Watchdog on The One Show, will see Nikki Fox investigate a new type of sim card fraud, which sees scammers taking control of your mobile number without your permission, enabling them to unlock all kinds of aspects of your online life.
Elsewhere across the week the team will be speaking to some well-known faces who have been tricked by a scam, while also providing empowering tips and guidance on how to stay safe.
The One Show is on at 7pm on Â鶹ԼÅÄ One and iPlayer, with Watchdog transmitting on Wednesday the 27 November.
Rip Off Britain
The Rip Off Britain team will be back with Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville, set to tackle the most pressing scam issues.
Special episodes across the week will cover scams such as fake missing person ads and cheque fraud. The team will uncover disturbing cases, including eBay scammers holding a man to ransom, the misuse of cookies by fraudsters, and a shocking story of a house being put up for sale without the owner knowing anything about it. Special guest, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 journalist Shari Vahl, offers her expert insights. The series will also highlight Amazon account scams via remote access and the potentially lethal fake weight-loss injections being sold online and how the tech industry is responding to the rise in phone theft.
Bargain Hunt
A Bargain Hunt episode on Monday November 25, will focus on how to spot fake football memorabilia. Christina Trevanion meets a specialist collector of footballing souvenirs, who helps her to spot the difference between genuine and replica 1966 World Cup matchday programmes.
Countryfile
The week's episode of Countryfile investigates the threat to the farming community from invoice fraud. The programme delves into how criminals are impersonating legitimate businesses to defraud farmers of substantial sums, with one Scottish farmer sharing his experience of losing £30,000 to the scam. A rural insurance specialist will also provide insight into the rising number of cases he’s seeing affecting farmers.
EastEnders
EastEnders will focus an upcoming storyline on scams as Walford’s Jean Slater is duped by fraudsters staging an elaborate investment con. The storyline will raise awareness of how scammers use plausible narratives to convince people to part with personal information and money.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Three
A host of scam related titles from the Â鶹ԼÅÄ3 archive will be available across iPlayer during the week including Confessions of a Teenage Fraudster, Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang and Scam Land: Money, Mayhem and Maseratis.
iPlayer
All special-programming and archived content will be included under a dedicated section within Documentaries on iPlayer titled True Crime: Scams and Fraudsters.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio & Sounds
All special-programming and archived content will be included under a dedicated section on Sounds titled ‘True Crime: Scams and Fraudsters’.
Radio 1 - Life Hacks
In a Life Hacks special on scams, presenters Lauren Layfield and Shanequa Paris will be looking at a range of scams including those which are the most prevalent amongst 15-24 year olds. You can expect practical tips and advice on how to handle and avoid scams effectively.
Radio 1 – Newsbeat
Newsbeat will be joining Scam Safe week, offering in-depth coverage and insights.
Radio 1Xtra - 1Xtra talks with Richie Brave
On Â鶹ԼÅÄ 1Xtra, Richie Brave hosts the biggest group chat of the week, and in this episode, he explores the various ways students are targeted by scammers. He delves into the tactics used by scammers to lure people in, often offering counterfeit products at seemingly unbeatable prices.
Radio 2 – Jeremy Vine
Jeremy Vine will be highlighting the dangers of scams and hearing from listeners about their experiences on Tuesday 26 November
Asian Network – Everyday Hustle
Asian Network’s Everyday Hustle will have a special episode for Scam Safe week. The programme which shares tips, tricks and ideas will be presented by The Apprentice winner Harpreet Kaur.
Radio 4 – Five Ways They Get You
Radio 4’s Shari Vahl brings her expertise on fraud and scams to a new five-part series which will arm listeners with the tools they need to avoid the Five Ways They Get You. Each episode focuses on a particular case from Shari’s archive of investigations, drilling into the often surprising and conniving frauds that leave bewildered victims in their wake. From frauds that could see you lose your house or losing control of your bank account via your gym locker to the psychological trauma of a romance fraud. The illuminating stories from victims will educate the listeners about the simple steps they can take to keep safe.
Radio 4 - The Archers
Residents in Ambridge will be dealing with the issue of scamming, in a dramatic week for The Archers.
Radio 4 – You and Yours
Across the week, The Criminal Tool Box explores how artificial intelligence is becoming the latest weapon used by criminals to exploit consumers and steal their money. The special programmes will dive into the rapidly evolving tactics of cybercrime, revealing how AI is shaping the future of fraud.
Radio 4 – Short Works
When Cleo receives an alarming email about her mother’s ‘engagement’, she heads back to rural Wales to work out what’s going on. Author Francesca Reece will unveil a compelling new short story that delves into the emotional toll of romance scams.
Radio 5 Live
Radio 5 Live will have stories and experts on programmes throughout the week. Listeners will learn about the latest major scams, ranging from romance and ticketing scams to courier fraud and more. The week’s programming will help inform listeners on how to protect themselves and give advice on what to do if they have been scammed.
The Martin Lewis Podcast
Listeners will be able to hear a ‘Scams Special’ episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast where he answers your financial questions and offers valuable money-saving tips.
Local/National Radio
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scam Safe week is proud to announce a week of upcoming roadshows in collaboration with Morning Live and local radio. The roadshows are being delivered in partnership with the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scam Safe Partners Stop Scams UK, Age UK, Age Cymru, NASMA (the National Association of Student Money Advisers) and The Open University. They will feature representatives from major high street banks who are members of Stop Scams UK, Student money advisors from local universities who have experience in working with young people, Age UK advisors who work to deliver their Scam Prevention and Support programme and cyber experts from local police forces.
These roadshows aim to raise awareness about scams and fraud, providing vital support and education. Each event will feature live radio coverage from local Â鶹ԼÅÄ stations, offering real-time advice and resources to listeners. Launched at Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Merseyside on 28 October 2024 the dates and locations of the Scam Safe roadshows are as follows:
- Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Devon in Exeter - Monday 25 November
- Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Wales in Cardiff - Tuesday 26 November
- Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Cumbria in Carlisle – Wednesday 27 November
- Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Humberside in Hull - Thursday 28 November
- Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Manchester in Manchester – Friday 29 November
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Ulster's new Consumer Fight Back podcast will be a key feature of Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scam Safe Week. On Saturday the 23 November, Holly Hamilton will be taking on scammers of all kinds – the people trying to get you to make a dodgy deposit, hand over your bank details or liberate you of your passwords.
Welsh language station Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Cymru will also have scam-focussed programmes on their Dros Frecwast programme on Monday the 25 November and Dros Ginio programme on Tuesday the 26 November.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Wales will take part in a full day of scams awareness on Tuesday, 26 November, starting with its Breakfast programme. At midday, The Phone In with Jason Mohammad will hear from people in Wales affected by scams, followed by Behnaz Akhgar's afternoon advice hour on the topic. The coverage will continue into Drive, with Eleri Sion later highlighting how those living with loneliness are often targeted by scammers.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Scotland’s topical show Mornings will feature the issue throughout the week. Coverage will include a phone-in on scamming, a case study and a surgery which will give the audience expert advice on staying safe. The programme will also feature Scottish stories from the television show Scam Interceptors which is produced at Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scotland’s Pacific Quay.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ News
Â鶹ԼÅÄ News will run stories throughout the week, online, along with TV and Radio bulletins and live moments.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Breakfast
Kicking off the week there will be scam related news content on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Breakfast all week starting from 6am on Saturday 23 November.
Scam Interceptors day
On Tuesday 26 November Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 5 Live and the News Channel will be on the ground at Scam Interceptors HQ in Glasgow with correspondent Lucy Grey. The team will attempt to alert people to live scams as they happen with a series of hits throughout the day.
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Education
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Education has launched a How Scam Savvy Are You? online quiz, designed to help participants test and improve their knowledge of common scams and fraud tactics. Whether you’re a seasoned scam-spotter or just starting to navigate the world of online security, the quiz offers an informative and entertaining way to boost your scam awareness. Participants will be able to compare their own scores with well-known celebrities, adding a fun and competitive twist to the test.
For more information and to take the quiz, visit Â鶹ԼÅÄ Scam Safe week quiz: How scam savvy are you? - Â鶹ԼÅÄ Bitesize
Children in Need
Together with The Children’s Society, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Children in Need will provide free training to charity grantees on recognising and addressing child financial exploitation, so that they will be better able to support victims and prevent more from being affected.
Partners
For help and guidance throughout the week the Â鶹ԼÅÄ have partnered with a number of organisations. They are Stop Scams UK , an industry-led collaboration of businesses from across the banking, telecoms and technology sectors; Age UK and Age Cymru, who deliver a scams prevention and support service via 15 local Age UKs across the UK; NASMA (National Association of Student Money Advisers) who provide professional training and development to people working in the student money advice sector; and The Open University.
Ruth Evans, Chair of Stop Scams UK, said "We believe the partnership between Stop Scams UK and the Â鶹ԼÅÄ underscores the importance of giving the public the tools they need to best defend themselves against scams."