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Scam Detectors

Scam Detectors

Written by: Featurespace
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Think you can spot a scam? Think again. The Scam Detectors Podcast unravels the increasingly sophisticated schemes separating people from their money - and how consumers and financial institutions are fighting back. Hosted by BBC technology journalist Jane Wakefield, each episode explores a different type of scam through the eyes of everyday people, fraud fighters, household names, and industry experts. As fraud becomes the most common crime in the UK, accounting for 40% of all offences recorded in England and Wales, the need for awareness and protection has never been greater. From romance scams to investment fraud, we expose fraudsters' tactics to help you protect yourself and your money. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Any named entities in any of our episodes are not affiliated with Featurespace or Visa.Copyright 2025 Featurespace Economics
Episodes
  • Job Scams
    Jan 7 2026

    In this episode of Scam Detectors, we dive into the elaborate world of job scams.

    Job scams are on the rise globally, with the US Better Business Burea reporting that 14million people in the US and Canada have been exposed to employment scams, with an average monetary loss of $1,000. In the UK, job seekers have been warned to watch out for scammers after complaints about job and recruitment fraud to Action Fraud more than doubled from 2,000 in 2022 to nearly 5,000 in 2024.

    In this episode, Jane is joined by:

    1. Andrea, who landed her dream teaching job in the UAE, only to met with demands for payment for her work visa and local bank account
    2. Lisa Webb, who shares insights on how data breaches are fuelling employment scam contact lists
    3. Christina Leeb, who explains how scammers are increasingly using AI to craft convincing communications to get through company recruitment systems.

    ©2025 Visa. All rights reserved. Visa and the Visa logo are trademarks of Visa. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.

    This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, please consult a qualified attorney. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Visa or its affiliates. References to third-party products, services, or organizations are for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement by Visa. Visa assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the content. Any statements about future plans or features are forward-looking and subject to change without notice.

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    39 mins
  • Online Shopping Scams
    Nov 26 2025

    In this episode of Scam Detectors, we explore the evolving world of online shopping scams, which are especially prominent during peak shopping periods like Black Friday.

    We hear from Patricia, who shares her story with a fake logistics company, a fraudulent contract and how she overcame the persistent threats to pay the scammers. Graham Cluley, a cyber security expert, talks about the sophisticated tactics hackers are using to exploit customers through popular travel sites. And Dave Laramy, Head of Group Fraud and Tax Evasion at Danske Bank, shares how banks are using AI and machine learning to protect customers.

    Listen to the full episode and find out how you can keep yourself safe online this holiday season.

    ©2025 Visa. All rights reserved. Visa and the Visa logo are trademarks of Visa. Featurespace and the Featurespace logo are trademarks of Featurespace.

    This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Visa or Featurespace.

    References:

    1. Visa’s Scam Disruption Service identified $1 billion in fraud, Visa data 2024-2025
    2. Research conducted by independent research agency Opinium - research of 2000 UK adults (weighted to be nationally representative) and 500 Senior decision makers in banks and financial institutions in the UK between 22nd August – 5th September.

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    31 mins
  • Crypto Scams
    Oct 29 2025

    In this episode, we dive into the growing threat of crypto scams, with Jane drawing on her own experience of being impersonated in AI-generated fake news articles. We hear from Karen, who was lured into investing thousands, while undercover scam hunter Jim Browning exposes a “recovery scam” in real time. Investigative journalist Jamie Bartlett discusses the infamous OneCoin fraud and the psychology behind get-rich-quick schemes.

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    40 mins
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