Inside Britain’s Fraud Emergency: New podcast hears from fraudsters, victims and experts on the front line

• Series provides unique intelligence on the people, tactics and trends shaping financial crime in the UK
• Opening episodes examine identity fraud from the criminal’s perspective and how stolen mobile phones are enabling wider financial crime (including a victim’s story)
• Podcast turns lived experience, criminal insight and fraud prevention expertise into actionable intelligence to effectively tackle fraud

Thursday 1 October 2026 marks the official launch of The Financial Crimes Podcast – a new series examining the people, tactics and emerging threats shaping the UK’s financial crime landscape. 

Through conversations with criminals – carried out under strict parameters – victims and industry experts, the podcast aims to provide organisations with practical insight into the evolving challenges of tackling modern-day fraud, a crime estimated to cost the UK economy more than £200 billion each year, while highlighting the action being taken to prevent it. 

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Kate Hemingway, alongside former fraudster-turned-fraud prevention specialist and We Fight FinCrime founder Tony Sales, and Mike Haley, CEO of UK fraud prevention service Cifas, the series offers a 360-degree view of financial crime through candid discussions with those who have experienced, investigated and helped prevent it. 

Episodes will explore emerging threats, share lessons learned and highlight effective approaches to fraud prevention aimed at closing the intelligence gap for industry professionals, financial institutions, policymakers and law enforcement agencies. Guests include Gareth Miles, Former Detective Superintendent and Head of the UK Fraud Intelligence Bureau in Episode 5, and a live interview with an active fraudster in Episode 4. 

Episode 1, ‘Identity Fraud: The Criminal Perspective’, provides exclusive and unprecedented access to active offenders, revealing how identities are sourced and traded online, the growing impact of AI on document forgery, and why younger offenders are increasingly drawn into fraud. 

Episode 2, 'Stolen Phones, Stolen Identities', examines the rising threat of mobile phone theft and how stolen devices are used to facilitate identity fraud and theft, account takeover (when stolen personal details, often gained through fake emails or texts, are used to hijack and control someone’s existing account) and wider financial crime. It also features a victim’s story and the lasting impact having had their phone stolen. 

Both episodes will be available on all major podcast platforms from 1 October 2026. Listeners will have an opportunity to ask questions of the hosts which will be answered in a monthly Q and A episode. 

Speaking about the new series, Tony Sales said: “Understanding criminal behaviour is essential if organisations are to stay ahead of evolving fraud threats. The Financial Crimes Podcast provides a rare opportunity to hear directly from those involved in fraud, alongside the victims and the experts working to prevent it, helping the industry turn intelligence into practical fraud prevention strategies.” 

Mike Haley added: “Fraud has reached unprecedented levels in the UK and should be treated as a national emergency. No-one is immune. Behind every fraud statistic is a business facing significant losses or a person whose finances, confidence and sense of security have been damaged. 

“By hearing from offenders, victims and experts, this podcast goes beyond the headlines to show how fraud is really committed, why more people are being drawn into it, and what can be done to stop it.” 

Kate Hemingway commented: “Few people get the opportunity to hear directly from offenders about how fraud is committed. These conversations provide valuable context for anyone working to understand and prevent financial crime.” 

The podcast launches at the Cifas Member Fraud Conference 2026: Building a Global Response, on 1 October, in London, where the team will record a special episode in front of a live audience. 

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

For more information, visit the website: www.financialcrimespodcast.com. For press enquiries, email: FCP@underworld.tv  

About The Financial Crimes Podcast 

The Financial Crimes Podcast is an industry-focused podcast dedicated to understanding and combating fraud through direct criminal interviews and expert analysis. Hosted by journalist Kate Hemingway, Tony Sales, co-founder of We Fight Fincrime and Mike Haley, CEO of UK fraud prevention service Cifas, the series explores emerging fraud threats, offender methodologies, identity crime, AI-enabled fraud and financial crime prevention. It is designed for fraud professionals, risk leaders, policymakers and law enforcement organisations. Powered by We Fight FinCrime and Cifas, the podcast is produced by Adam Boome at Underworld.TV, a production company specialising in subject of crime.

Contact us at press@cifas.org.uk