Avoiding Scams and Changes to Wills
Summary
Moneybox delves into the staggering £450 million lost to various scams in the past year, offering expert advice on protection and reporting. The episode also covers the disruption caused by a cyber attack on Co-op Legal Services, affecting clients awaiting probate funds, and provides cybersecurity tips. Additionally, it examines the Law Commission's proposed changes to will laws and details the compensation scheme for thousands of energy customers wrongly forced onto prepayment meters.Episode description
Hundreds of millions of pounds was stolen from people in 2024 by thieves who tricked them, manipulated them, and then drained their bank accounts. The latest figures from UK Finance show that more than £450m was handed over to criminals in that way. That was slightly less than in 2023 but there were fewer cases - down 20% to just under 186,000. So those who were robbed lost more - an average of more than £2,400. What kind of scams were most common and what can you do to avoid them?
There have been several high profile cyber attacks on businesses recently. But apart from downed deliveries and empty shelves, what impact can they have on other areas of a business that weren’t directly attacked?
Major changes to the laws about making a will have been proposed to the government by the Law Commission. Its job is to recommend changes in the laws in England and Wales to improve or simplify them.
And what should people do if they think they’re owed compensation by their energy company following the prepayment meter scandal?
Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Sarah Rogers Researcher: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle
(First broadcast at 12pm on Saturday 31st May, 2025)