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Scam Secrets

BBC Radio 4
Scams
Fraud
Online Fraud
Fraud Prevention
Psychological Manipulation
Identity Theft
Cybersecurity
Emotional Manipulation
Piano Scams
Whatsapp
Investment Fraud
Fake Companies
Scam Prevention
Courier Fraud
Mobile Scams
Two-Step Verification
Cryptocurrency
Knitted Cardigan Scam
Vulnerability Of Musicians
Fake Recruitment Scams

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 a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes22Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
True Crime

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Scam Secrets

Latest Episodes

A 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, they realise there is no shift. In fact there is no job. But it gets muc... more

If 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. Because you're also handing over personal data that can be far more lucrati... more

You'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 elaborate scam that's aimed at people and organisations with a big social ... more

You'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 you know what to do? In this episode, people using booking.com are target... more

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Recent Guests

Keith Rosser
Chairman of JobsAware, a partnership between government and recruitment industry to protect job seekers from scams
JobsAware
Episode: The Trial Shift Scam
Matthew Gracey-McMinn
Founder of Phrenesis, cyber security expert
Phrenesis
Episode: The Customer Service Returns Scam
Danielle Lilly
Former police officer and lecturer in policing; cybercrime specialist
University of Salford
Episode: The Podcast Scam
Rafe Pilling
Security expert investigated this specific scam for Sophos
Sophos
Episode: The Booking.com Scam
Abigail Bishop
Amazon's head of scam prevention
Amazon
Episode: Behind the Fake Profiles
Joel Roth
Head of Trust and Safety at Match Group
Match Group (Tinder, Hinge, etc.)
Episode: Behind the Fake Profiles
Murray McKenzie
Director of Fraud Prevention
Virgin Media O2
Episode: Behind the Fake Profiles
Tristan Redman
Co-host of Global Story (BBC)
Global Story
Episode: Behind the Fake Profiles
Elias Hattas
Acting Head of Organized Crime for the United Nations
United Nations
Episode: Following the Trail

Host

Shari Vahl
Host of Scam Secrets

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 56 ratings
  • Exceptional scam warning

    With ever increasing misuse of technology to fleece the distracted and unsuspecting, this is an exceptional program and team of experts. Thank you for sounding alarms and signalling red flags. Whether you think you’re tech savvy or not this is an engaging pod cast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boxed Kaz
    Australia22 days ago
  • informative

    I looked up Podcasts about scammers and fraudsters because my son , who is 13 , was scammed online last week. It shook me to my core and I want to know more. I truly hope this podcast continues in 2026.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L Sales
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience finds the content highly actionable for preventing fraud and understanding tactics.
Shows readers feel informed about scams and protective steps.
Listeners appreciate real-world victim stories and expert insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#74
United Kingdom/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#209
Germany/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#220
France/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#58
New Zealand/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#123
Poland/True Crime
Apple Podcasts
#138
Ireland/True Crime

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Trial Shift Scam
Q: What red flags did Joe encounter in the online recruitment process?
Red flags included an entirely online process with no in-person contact, reliance on email communications, and requests for bank details, identity documents, and personal data before any physical interview.
The Trial Shift Scam
Q: Would you know what to do?
The hosts outline recognizing the warning signs of a scam, emphasizing the importance of verifying employers, avoiding sharing sensitive data early, and seeking help from authorities if something seems off.
The Customer Service Returns Scam
Q: What are we seeing with these terrible websites that criminals are operating?
They are box of tat sites that sell fake or low-quality items while harvesting data; these sites use local credibility, templated designs, fake reviews, and bot-driven site creation to appear legitimate, and they are part of a broader data-collection and targeting ecosystem.
Please Call Me
Q: What is your one tip to avoid getting caught up in this horrible type of scam?
The most important tip is not to respond to texts or emails from people you don't know. Once you start communicating, commitment and consistency make it easy for scammers to keep you engaged, so any initial contact should be treated as a red flag and ignored or verified through trusted channels.
The WhatsApp Takeover
Q: What should someone do first if they find themselves in a situation like Yo's?
They should recognize the emotional impact and immediately reach out to friends through different platforms to verify what is happening, then log out of suspicious sessions and reinstall WhatsApp to secure their account.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Scam Secrets

What is Scam Secrets about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show concentrates on uncovering fraud, scams, and social engineering with rigorous expert analysis and real-case storytelling. Episodes typically dissect how scammers operate, from impersonation and phishing to romance and investment fraud, often featuring forensic linguistics, cybersecurity insights, and practical prevention tips. A hallmark is the human angle—victim experiences and cross-industry collaboration—paired with actionable red flags and platform/company recommendations. It stands out for bringing together law enforcement, industry leaders, and insiders (including a former offender turned prevention advocate) to illuminate how scams work and how to stay safe online.

Where can I find podcast stats for Scam Secrets?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Scam Secrets. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Scam Secrets and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Scam Secrets get?

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What are the audience demographics for Scam Secrets?

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How many subscribers and views does Scam Secrets have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Scam Secrets has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Scam Secrets?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Scam Secrets:

1. Sliced Bread
2. File on 4 Investigates
3. Shadow World
4. Top Comment
5. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

How many episodes of Scam Secrets are there?

Scam Secrets launched 10 months ago and published 22 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Scam Secrets?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Scam Secrets?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Scam Secrets from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Scam Secrets?

Recent guests on Scam Secrets include:

1. Keith Rosser
2. Matthew Gracey-McMinn
3. Danielle Lilly
4. Rafe Pilling
5. Abigail Bishop
6. Joel Roth
7. Murray McKenzie
8. Tristan Redman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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