Don't Get Caught Out

Each year, Brits lose more than £2billion to scams and fraud, and the criminals are growing more brazen by the day. Alexis Conran returns with a new series exploring the growing world of scammers and con artists. We bring you horror stories of people who've lost a fortune, explain the tactics that scammers love, and go undercover to beat the scammers at their own game. In this edition, Alexis and his team take on the scammers who make us vulnerable in the place we should be safest - at home. Christian from Wakefield comes face to face with a scammer in the privacy of his own home. He invited the man in to sell his £10,000 Rolex but the scammer only pretends to send the money via a custom-built ‘fake bank' app. When Christian refuses to hand the watch over, the scammer steals it. In London, students Alma and Bruno got scammed on the doorstep of what they thought was their future home. After visiting the apartment of their dreams, they agree to pay a full year's rent up-front – £20,000 – only to learn the ‘landlord' doesn't really own the place and he's run off with their money.

Alexis Conran and his team take on the scammers who cynically target the people making the world a better place: charities, campaigners for good causes... and us when we try to support them.

Alexis Conran and his team take on the scammers who target us as we shop - whether we're buying online or out and about on the high street. We look at how scammers impersonate both online sellers and trusted financial institutions to get hold of our cash, how to stop your prized possessions getting snatched while you're out at the shops, and the devastating blackmail scam that's targeting small independent retailers across the country. 

Alexis Conran and his team take on the scammers who hit our wallets and our plans when we travel, whether it's here in the UK or on the far side of the world. As always, he also offers handy tips and advice on how to protect your money and peace-of-mind on holiday. Among the stories: on a once-in-a-lifetime safari in Africa, someone cloned Simon's credit card and secretly noted his PIN. When he returned home the scammers had taken control of his phone number and email, and then tried to raid several of his bank accounts for tens of thousands of pounds. Joanne from Greater Manchester was enjoying a holiday in Northumberland when scammers raided her bank account for £5,000. And Harriet from Manchester thought she was about to start an exciting new life as an ex-pat in Abu Dhabi - only to discover the apartment she'd paid a £2,000 deposit for wasn't really for rent.