Paul Hampson, Chief Executive Officer at CEL Solicitors, recently appeared on BBC Scam Secrets to explain how people may be able to recover money lost to a scam.
Paul joined an expert panel alongside David Geale, Managing Director of the Payment Systems Regulator, and Richard Daniels, Head of Fraud at TSB.
Together, they shared practical guidance on what to do if you have been scammed and where to turn for help.
Advice on what to do if you’ve been scammed
During the programme, the panel were asked what immediate steps someone should take after realising they have lost money to a scammer.
Here, Paul shares his key advice:
Stop all contact immediately
Do not reply to any further messages, calls or emails from the scammer. Fraudsters may continue trying to pressure or manipulate you, sometimes using a different name or approach.
Contact your bank as soon as possible
Let your bank or card provider know straight away. They may be able to freeze or reverse payments, and should assess whether they met their duty of care towards you.
Secure your accounts
If you have shared any personal details or login information, change your passwords immediately and turn on two-factor authentication where available.
Keep a record of everything
Save messages, emails, receipts and transaction details. These can be vital if you later need to report the scam or seek recovery. It can also help to note why the situation appeared genuine at the time.
Report the scam
Report what happened to Report Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
Get specialist advice
If your bank refuses to refund you or you believe it failed to protect you properly, consulting a solicitor experienced in fraud recovery may be beneficial. You can also escalate complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Helping people stay ‘Scam Safe’
The special episode, Scam Secrets: How Do I Get My Money Back?, formed part of BBC Scam Safe 2025, a week of dedicated programming highlighting what people can do to protect themselves and those they love from being scammed.
Paul Hampson was invited to join the popular BBC Radio 4 podcast, which sees fraud investigator Shari Vahl, criminologist Dr. Elisabeth Carter, and former criminal Alex Wood expose the psychological tricks and techniques fraudsters use, teaching listeners how to spot and avoid scams.
Commenting on BBC Scam Safe 2025, Paul Hampson, CEL Solicitors’ CEO, said: “CEL Solicitors is proud to support BBC Scam Safe Week for the third year running. Education is key in the fight against fraud, so it’s fantastic to see such in-depth coverage across the BBC platforms.”
Scam Secrets: How Do I Get My Money Back aired on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 27th November 2025. You can listen again here.
You can also read more on steps to get your money back both on the BBC, or on the CEL Solicitors site, here.
If you have lost money to a scam like those discussed here, you don’t have to suffer alone. Trust a recovery solicitor like CEL to help you get your money back. Call 0333 305 4982 or submit an enquiry online.
