Jane Wakefield Returns with Scam Detectors Season Two | Exposing Online Fraud in 2025
In a world where digital deception is becoming the new normal, journalist Jane Wakefield is back on the airwaves with Season Two of Scam Detectors. The podcast, backed by anti-fraud AI powerhouse Featurespace, continues its mission to uncover how modern scammers manipulate technology, psychology, and trust — and why so many smart people still fall victim.
With financial crime now accounting for 40% of all UK criminal activity, costing an estimated £2.3 billion each year, the stakes have never been higher. Scam Detectors is not just entertainment — it’s an education, an awareness campaign, and a crucial tool in the fight against fraud.
Jane Wakefield: From BBC Tech Desk to Fraud Fighter
Veteran technology journalist Jane Wakefield, best known for her time at the BBC, brings her signature storytelling style and investigative depth to the podcast. Over the years, Wakefield has covered the rise of artificial intelligence, data privacy, and the darker side of online innovation.
Now, she’s turning her lens toward the fast-evolving ecosystem of scams — from romance cons to deepfake-driven crypto schemes.
“Fraudsters are getting smarter, faster and more convincing,” Wakefield says. “By hearing the stories of people who’ve been affected and the experts fighting back, we can all become better at recognising and resisting their tricks.”
Season Two: A Deep Dive Into the Digital Underworld
Season Two of Scam Detectors builds on the explosive success of its debut season, which drew global listeners and critical acclaim for its balance of emotional storytelling and expert insight.
Each new episode exposes a different form of modern fraud — showing not only how criminals operate, but why their schemes work so effectively in today’s digital-first world.
Episode 1: The Psychology of Scams — Why We Still Fall for Them
The opening episode features Becky Holmes, author of Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You, a viral book exploring romance scams and the emotional manipulation behind them. Joining Holmes are Suzanne Lynch and Steve Goddard, a fraud prevention expert at Featurespace.
Together, they dissect how scammers exploit three critical human vulnerabilities:
Emotion: Using love, fear, or greed to manipulate decisions.
Technology: Leveraging deepfakes, spoofing, and AI chatbots.
Trust: Disguising fraud as friendship, opportunity, or authority.
The episode emphasizes that intelligence is not immunity — even well-educated, tech-savvy individuals can be deceived when emotions run high.
“Scammers aren’t just hacking systems — they’re hacking people,” Goddard explains. “They use behavioral psychology better than most marketers do.”
Episode 2: Crypto Chaos and the Missing Billions
Episode two welcomes investigative journalist Jamie Bartlett, the mind behind the BBC’s The Missing Cryptoqueen — a groundbreaking series that exposed OneCoin, one of the largest cryptocurrency frauds in history.
In this conversation, Bartlett and Wakefield explore how high-level financial crime continues to evolve despite new laws, anti-money laundering tools, and AI monitoring systems.
Topics include:
The persistence of Ponzi-style crypto schemes despite global crackdowns.
The role of influencers in promoting dubious investments.
Regulatory blind spots allowing fraudsters to operate across borders.
The illusion of decentralization — and how scammers exploit it.
“Regulation can’t keep up with innovation,” Bartlett notes. “Every time we close one loophole, ten new ones appear.”
Upcoming Episodes: Scams You Haven’t Heard Of (Yet)
While details remain under wraps, the upcoming lineup promises to cover emerging threats such as:
AI-generated romance profiles that pass deepfake detection tools.
“Pig Butchering” scams, where fraudsters lure victims into fake crypto investments.
Synthetic identity theft, blending real and fake data to open bank accounts.
Voice cloning fraud, where criminals impersonate loved ones to request emergency funds.
Listeners can expect each story to blend real-world victim accounts with insights from law enforcement, cybersecurity experts, and behavioral scientists.
Featurespace: The Technology Partner Behind the Truth
The podcast’s sponsor, Featurespace, is a leading name in AI-driven fraud prevention. Their Adaptive Behavioral Analytics platform helps banks and financial institutions detect anomalies in customer behavior before fraud occurs.
Featurespace’s involvement adds a crucial layer of expertise to the podcast — bridging the gap between awareness and innovation.
“Education and technology must work together,” says Steve Goddard. “AI can stop fraud, but public awareness is the real first line of defense.”
The Growing Fraud Epidemic in 2025
According to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), fraud now represents nearly half of all recorded crime, surpassing burglary and violent offenses combined. The surge is driven by:
Economic stress after global recessions and inflation spikes.
Widespread digital adoption during remote work and e-commerce growth.
The rise of generative AI, which makes fake content more convincing than ever.
Key Statistics (2025):
£2.3 billion: Estimated annual losses from fraud in the UK.
1 in 10 Britons: Have encountered an online scam attempt in the past 12 months.
45%: Increase in romance scams since 2023.
60%: Of victims say they were contacted via social media first.
Wakefield’s podcast serves as a mirror to this troubling landscape — illustrating how ordinary people can become unwitting participants in global criminal networks.
Meet the Voices Behind the Mic
Jane Wakefield – Host and Creator
Former BBC journalist specializing in technology and digital culture.
Recognized for investigative reporting on cybercrime and AI ethics.
Passionate advocate for online safety and media literacy.
Guest Experts & Contributors
Becky Holmes – Author and romance fraud awareness advocate.
Suzanne Lynch – Financial journalist with a focus on digital deception.
Steve Goddard – Fraud prevention specialist, Featurespace.
Jamie Bartlett – Investigative reporter, author, and podcast host.
Together, they bring a 360-degree view of fraud: from the emotional devastation it causes to the algorithms that can help stop it.
The Emotional Toll of Scams: Beyond the Bank Account
Financial losses are only part of the story. Victims of fraud often face:
Shame and isolation — feeling “stupid” for falling for scams.
Anxiety and paranoia — fearing future deception.
Broken relationships — as trust erodes even among family members.
Experts featured in Scam Detectors highlight that fraud recovery must address both the financial and emotional aftermath.
“Victims don’t just lose money,” says Wakefield. “They lose faith in humanity.”
Technology vs. Trust: The Battlefront of Fraud Prevention
Modern fraudsters no longer need physical access — only a device, data, and an internet connection. Key trends shaping the fraud landscape in 2025 include:
1. Artificial Intelligence in Fraud
Fraudsters are now using AI to create:
Hyper-realistic deepfake videos and voices.
Automated scam bots capable of real-time conversation.
Sophisticated phishing pages indistinguishable from real sites.
2. The Rise of Fraud-as-a-Service (FaaS)
Underground networks now sell pre-built scam kits on the dark web, allowing even non-technical users to launch complex attacks.
3. Social Engineering on Steroids
Rather than stealing passwords, scammers manipulate human behavior — convincing victims to willingly transfer funds or share data.
Global Perspective: How Other Nations Are Responding
Countries worldwide are racing to strengthen anti-fraud frameworks:
United States: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launches AI Scam Task Force.
European Union: Digital Services Act introduces stricter identity verification.
Australia: National Scam Register mandates reporting for all digital platforms.
The UK is also preparing to implement the Online Fraud Charter, aimed at holding social media platforms accountable for scam advertising and fake profiles.
Wakefield’s podcast frequently references these reforms, questioning whether legislation can ever move as quickly as technology.
The Role of Listeners: Becoming Digital Watchdogs
The mission of Scam Detectors extends beyond awareness — it’s about empowerment. Listeners are encouraged to:
Stay informed: Learn about new scams as they evolve.
Share knowledge: Talk to family and friends, especially older or vulnerable relatives.
Report incidents: Contact Action Fraud or local authorities.
Think before trusting: Verify sources, links, and “too good to be true” offers.
Wakefield hopes the podcast inspires a community-driven response to fraud — where vigilance is as viral as the scams themselves.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Impact
Season One of Scam Detectors was praised for blending storytelling and investigation with empathy and accuracy. Listeners described it as “addictive yet educational,” while educators and cybercrime units began using episodes as awareness material in schools and community programs.
With Season Two, Wakefield aims to build on that success — making Scam Detectors a must-listen for anyone using the internet in 2025 (which, effectively, means everyone).
Where and When to Listen
🎧 Platform Availability:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
BBC Sounds
Amazon Music
Google Podcasts
🕐 Release Schedule:
New episodes drop every Thursday
Each runs approximately 35–45 minutes
⚠️ Note: Episodes may contain sensitive or emotional content related to financial exploitation and fraud.
Conclusion: The Digital Crime War Is Just Beginning
Fraud is no longer a niche crime — it’s a global epidemic fueled by technology and trust. Jane Wakefield’s Scam Detectors doesn’t just report the problem — it illuminates it, challenges it, and humanizes the victims often forgotten in statistics.
As the lines between online and offline worlds blur, awareness becomes our greatest weapon. Season Two of Scam Detectors is more than a podcast — it’s a public service, arming listeners with the knowledge needed to protect themselves in a digital jungle that never sleeps.
