Image: BBC Press
By Jon Donnis
Amanda Holden has decided she has had enough of scammers trading on her name, so she is stepping straight into the fight. After criminals used her image to trick victims out of large sums of money, she has teamed up with the Scam Interceptors crew for a one off special that forms part of BBC Scam Safe Week.
The episode pairs her with Rav Wilding and the rest of the team as they dig into the global networks responsible for targeting people across the UK, including the ones pretending to be Amanda herself. It is a personal mission for her, and you can feel that edge in the way the programme has been framed.
The team sticks to the same remote access tools used by the scammers, turning the technology back on the fraudsters. They are able to watch the operations unfold in real time, track how the criminals work and move in before another victim is caught up in the mess. The plan is simple. See the scam forming, expose the people behind it and shut it down before any money changes hands.
It is a rare chance to watch the tables being flipped on a group that usually hides behind screens. For Amanda, it is also a way to reclaim her own name from the people who have been misusing it, while helping the team shine a light on the growing scale of scam crime in the UK.
Watch Celebrity Scam Interceptors from 2pm on Monday 24 November on BBC One and iPlayer
Interview with Amanda Holden
What made you take part in Scam Interceptors?
I can't stand injustice. My family and friends say I'm always ready to fight a cause or someone's corner so I thought this was something I would be quite passionate about having had some recent first-hand experience!
You've had some personal experience of dealing with scammers, haven't you?
I was part of what the police called a 'romance fraud'. I later found out that relatives of a vulnerable older man contacted the police to ask for help as they were so worried. They wanted to stop their uncle from putting his house on the market because he believed that the proceeds of the sale were then going to come to me and we were going to live together! Obviously, this was never going to happen. The first I heard about it all was from the police. The scammers were going to pocket all his money.
I found this shocking and felt personally responsible for his wellbeing so tried to help the police in every way I could. Brilliantly and just in the nick of time he did not sell his home. He realised that there was no relationship with me directly. It made me realise that my profile is out there being used for all sorts of bad reasons so I thought if I can use my profile for good, and draw attention to the week of scam programming, then that could only be a positive thing. Thank goodness this person's family stepped in.
What did you learn from your time in the scam hub?
I literally don't know how the team copes with the stress of trying to put fires out everywhere and then them igniting again. It's mind blowing but it really pulls on your heartstrings. It's very emotional when you see things happening in real time, money being transferred in seconds, I just wanted to stop them or scream at the individuals that they were being scammed. I realised that every minute counts and every small win is a big win. Plus, I met 'Scamanda' - one of the scammers pretending to be me. I gave them what for!
What would you advise people?
I don't pick up the phone to any number I don't recognise or withheld numbers. I think if someone really needs to speak to you, they will leave you a message or communication will arrive in the post that you can verify with your bank in person. There are official telephone numbers for companies that ring you, so check the number calling you or if you've answered and become unsure of who you are speaking with - hang up! Then google and look for an official number and compare and call your bank to check. Never, ever give out bank details, pin numbers or transfer money is what I say. Hang up and call into your local bank branch or call their official number on the back of your bank card.
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