BBC One programme Scam Interceptors wins major national Hero Award for uncovering call centre scams

Posted 08/12/23

BBC One programme Scam Interceptors, has received the Business Award at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) annual Hero Awards ceremony which celebrates outstanding work in consumer protection.

The Hero Awards were hosted on 22 November by CTSI and Yvonne Fovargue MP in the House of Commons and recognised individuals and groups that have gone above and beyond this year to protect consumers and support honest businesses.

Scam Interceptors is presented by Rav Wilding, and his team including Nick Stapleton, under the guidance of ethical hacker, Jim Browning. During the programme, the team work together to hunt down scammers and fraudsters from illegal call centres. These scammers ruin the lives of so many, from the vulnerable to those who never believe they would be a target for scammer.

The team use technology to monitor calls made to victims by scammers. They send warning messages to the victims in the hope that they can be saved from losing life savings in real-time situations. Not confined to the UK, the team also take their work abroad to protect more consumers.

Call centre victims have been saved by alerting text messages and phone calls, or by contacting family, work colleagues, and/or neighbours, and even by sending a local taxi firm to a homeowner while they were being caught up in a call centre scam.

CTSI Chief Executive John Herriman said: “CTSI is delighted to present the Business Award to the BBC Scam Interceptors Team. They do amazing work in protecting consumers and highlighting the risks presented to the public by call centre scams.

“It’s great to see them garner recognition for this important contribution to consumer protection. We look forward to seeing more fantastic series of Scam Interceptors in the future.”

Rachel Platt, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime and Early-Peak, says: “I’m incredibly proud of Scam Interceptors and it’s an honour to be recognised at the Hero Awards. The programme is a brilliant example of extraordinary consumer content and testament to our dedicated team who work to deliver real-time and on-air moments designed to raise awareness and educate audiences in an effort to protect them from cyber criminals”.

The first series BBC Scam Interceptors aired in 2022, and the recording of series three has been taking place since October this year. The programme has also been nominated for a BAFTA.

This award category is supported by the Friends Against Scams Team, who helped to present this award at the CTSI Hero Award ceremony.

ENDS
Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is a national not for profit established in 1881 which supports the UK’s Trading Standards profession, and works to protect consumers and safeguard honest businesses. CTSI's members are engaged in delivering frontline Trading Standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk

Please contact CTSI Press Office: [email protected] for any queries.

---