The Traitors UK star Sam has revealed a devastating experience of losing £40,000 to a sophisticated scam. In an emotional account, he described the incident as 'gut-wrenching' and 'sickening.'
How the Scam Unfolded
Sam explained that he usually avoids answering calls from unknown numbers, but scammers tricked him into calling them. He received text messages appearing to be from his bank, warning of a breach in his cryptocurrency account. When he called the number, the scammers replicated his account page without requiring passwords or codes.
Using fear tactics, they convinced him to move his money. 'They took me through one by one and said they need all of this for our insurance case,' Sam shared. His wife Alex googled the number and saw red flags, but it was too late. 'They’d emptied everything, they hung up, I tried to ring back, couldn’t get through and panic just set in. This was £40,000, I’m talking lifesavings.'
Emotional and Financial Impact
Sam contacted the police, who warned that fraud is so common it's 'not a matter of if you get scammed, it’s when.' Despite logging a case, nothing has been recovered. He spent months trying to emotionally recover and even asked followers for ideas to recoup the money.
'It really wrecks you. I was in a really bad way. It’s not just money and that much money is a life-changing amount of money to anyone and it’s getting more and more common,' he added. He urged people to 'double check' before picking up the phone.
Rising Scam Statistics
UK Finance reported over four million fraud cases last year, with £1.3bn stolen in 2025. Investment scams soared by 40% in a year, with criminals using AI to manipulate victims.
Support from Fellow Stars
Many cast members expressed support. Traitors winner Stephen said he was 'heartbroken and furious.' Co-star Amanda was 'absolutely gutted,' and finalist Jade called it 'utterly gut-wrenching.' Judy praised Sam for being 'so brave,' while Jessie and Dr Ellie shared their condolences.
