Cryptocurrency scammers steal a man's house

Money Box

BBC

Business

4.2 • 825 Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2022

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We report on a man who was fed up with poor returns on his savings and tried to invest in cryptocurrency instead. But he ended up losing his savings, his car, and his house as thieves stripped him bare. Money Box reporter Dan Whitworth investigates.

The government is about to announce changes to who is eligible to receive the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales. This £140 payment off one electricity bill will be raised to £150 from next winter. But charities are warning that there will be more than 200,000 disabled people who will no longer get the payment even though, overall, it will go to more people. We hear from Louise Rubin, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the disability equality charity, Scope.

One in four households will not be able to pay their electricity and gas bills in October if prices rise again as they are expected to - that's according to Citizens Advice, as the cost of heating our homes rises much faster than our incomes. Already millions of households are in what is called fuel poverty — unable to afford to heat and light their home. We hear from Caroline Flint, the newly appointed chair of the government’s Committee on Fuel Poverty.

And there are two weeks left to top up your 2021/22 tax free ISA. But would you do better using a regular savings account? We hear from Anna Bowes, co-founder of SavingsChampion.co.uk

Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Paul Waters Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor: Richard Vadon

Transcript

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0:00.0	On a winter's night in 1974, a crime took place that would obsess the nation.
0:07.0	It was an extraordinary news story.
0:09.0	The story of an aristocrat, Lord Lucan, who's said to have killed the family Nanny,
0:14.0	mistaking her for his wife, then somehow just disappeared.
0:18.0	One of the great mysteries in English criminal history. We're still looking for
0:21.7	Lucan. It's honestly one of the most powerful stories of my lifetime. I'm Alex Fontunzelman. This is
0:27.8	the Lucan Obsession. Listen on BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hello, in this Moneybox podcast, disabled people fear they may be excluded from a £150
0:42.2	pound discount off their next winter fuel bill after the rules change later this year.
0:47.9	The woman appointed to advise the government on how to end fuel poverty gives Moneybox her
0:52.7	first interview.
0:59.6	And if you have the money, there are two weeks left to top up this year's tax-free cash-ISER.
1:00.9	But is it a good idea?
1:09.0	But first, Graham thought he was investing in cryptocurrency when he contacted a firm he found on the internet.
1:12.0	He was fed up with poor returns on his savings and hoped to use it to help buy a home for his son. But he ended up losing his savings,
1:18.2	his car and his house as thieves stripped him bare. Dan Whitworth's here. Dan, give us some
1:24.7	background. Well, Paul, I've worked with you in the Moneybox team for three and a half years now
1:29.5	and sadly I've come across dozens, if not hundreds of cases of fraud.
1:34.2	And I have to say, having spoken to Graham, his family and friends for the last few days,
1:39.3	this is the most comprehensive and devastating fraud I have ever reported on.
1:44.6	It started last August when Graham was looking around for a better return on his savings.
1:49.2	He came across a company online called N Capital, which has since disappeared,
1:54.0	which was offering to help people invest in cryptocurrencies.
	...

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