You've Been Scammed

Matt meets Mirielle, who lost hundreds of pounds and her dreams of finding love, when the man she had met online turned out to be a ruthless conman. Matt also hears how the authorities are tackling the growing problems of scam mail, and could you be a target for the debt management scam?

Matt meets hard-working floor layer Carl, whose desire to provide for the future put him at the mercy of a stock market scammer. Plus the story of the conmen who were put behind bars after selling non-existent tickets to events including the Beijing Olympics, and scams to look out for on holiday.

Matt goes to see 86-year-old John, who wanted to do his bit for the environment by installing solar panels on his roof. But after handing over thousands of pounds to conmen, John's faith in people has been severely tested. Plus the will-writing conmen who were banged up after stealing from the dead, and the scams you should look out for in your email inbox.

Matt visits Michael and Hilary, whose attempts to sell their timeshare have put them at the mercy of a series of scam artists who have kept coming back for more. Plus the gang of men who were jailed for their part in an insurance scam that put innocent motorists' lives at risk, and the inheritance scam that tries to turn innocent people into criminals.

Matt goes to see retired IT manager Mick, who mixed business with pleasure by investing in wine and ended up losing thousands of pounds to conmen. Plus the builders who were put behind bars after duping innocent homeowners out of millions of pounds, and the scam that targets aspiring models.

Matt meets 23-year-old who has wanted to be a lorry driver since he was a boy. But Steve has recently had his dreams shattered by conmen who posed as a HGV training firm so they could get at his cash. Plus, how the Financial Services Authority secured their first ever criminal conviction against a man who set up a bogus firm to scam innocent investors, and the scams that target people who want their fifteen minutes of fame.

Matt visits Bill who was persuaded to invest tens of thousands of pounds in land only to find out that he had handed over his savings to conmen, a decision that has cost him not only money but also a close friendship. Plus, the men who were jailed for their part in a telecoms scam that has crippled small businesses and the scam artists who come knocking on your door.

Matt meets the ordinary people whose lives have been devastated by these scams, and hears how they were cleverly but cruelly manipulated into handing over their cash. Matt meets Terry and Pauline who wanted to get their affairs in order and decided to make a will. But they were then exploited by merciless conmen who persuaded them to hand over their cash and then did a runner. Plus, the story of a builder and his partner who targeted elderly ladies charging them thousands of pounds for what amounted to odd jobs.

Karla is one of the millions of people in Britain currently looking for work. Matt meets her and hears how she was ruthlessly drawn into an employment scam that played on her desire to work. Plus, the million pound scam that targeted people selling their cars, and the miracle cures that are simply a way to get at your cash.

Matt meets Caroline who spent 15 years and thousands of pounds studying psychology and then faced the devastating news that her course had been a con and her qualifications were worthless. Plus, how the authorities banged up a buy-to-let conman who duped investors out of £80 million, and the scam that targets people looking for their dream job.