The Big Phish: Is This The End Of Bank Scams?

How many times have we received emails from Nigerian princes, strange uncles we have never heard of (but who have left us US$ 1 million) and stranded friends in eastern Europe, all asking for the same thing – our banking details. I have always been intrigued by the idea of a cashless society. We spend most of our adult life earning it, we use it every day and depend on it till we die. But where does it go? Where is my money and how much control do I have over it? Or... do I control it at all?

This episode of "This is Money" podcast tackles the commonplace, modern problem of bank scams. Money crime is no longer what it was. Unlike men in dark alleys, these criminals don't ask us to give them our money or steal our ATM cards. We give them our PIN number willingly! And banks, for the longest time, have said "Erm, not our problem". But attitudes are changing.

Listen to this really fascinating episode on the technology and regulations behind our money. Simon Lambert talks about his investigation into money crimes and about its victims – elderly people who handed over life savings, farmers who handed over their EU payments. Lambert is lucid and persuasive, and puts this global problem into perspective.