Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 4,06 Aug 2026,28 mins

The Customer Complaints Scam

Scam Secrets

Available for over a year

Have you ever been desperately trying to contact a company to complain about shoddy service? Or needed to cut through the automated responses and speak to a human who can help? Most of us have - and the criminals have latched onto it. Scam Secrets takes a journey into the world of customer service scams. Criminals pose on social media as respected brands, going out of their way to help. They'll even offer a refund - but the money only goes in one direction. Shari, Lis and Alex grab their red flags and hear from a listener whose attempts to complain about a parcel delivery led her right into the grip of criminals. They hear about the vast scale of this type of scam - researchers found 350,000 fake accounts impersonating 2,600 brands - and discuss the best ways to avoid getting scammed while you're trying to complain. PRESENTER: SHARI VAHL PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Programme Website
More episodes