Former Blue Peter Helen Skelton has revealed that she was scammed out of her savings after receiving a fake call from her bank.
The TV star, 36, lost £70,000 following the hoax call, which she took while looking after her two children.
She has now made a new programme with ITV to help raise awareness of similar hoaxes, which is set to air next week.
Opening up about her experience in an interview with Lorraine Kelly, the presenter said that she only answered “a few questions over the phone.”
“I got phoned up by the bank, told something dodgy had gone on with my account,” she told Kelly. “A week later, £70,000, all my savings had gone.
“It was just a few questions over the phone. The reason I’ve made this programme is because it happens every day of the week, to all members of the public.”
She said that she wanted to address the misconception that “little old ladies [...] who don’t understand the internet” are the primary victims of similar scams.
“That’s a massively naive assumption,” she added. “It’s happening to people and they’re too embarrassed to say that it’s happened.”
Skelton also shared her hope that her new documentary will “help people be aware, be on guard and avoid that [happening to them].”
Kelly shared her shock at her guest’s unfortunate experience, exclaiming: “70 grand! Sometimes you are caught off balance. If you can be caught off balance… You’re not daft.”
Skelton appeared on CBBC flagship show Blue Peter from 2008 to 2013 and also presents segments for BBC’s Countryfile.
She has featured on the BBC’s coverage of various sporting events including the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2017 World Aquatics Championships.
Lorraine airs on ITV weekdays from 8.30am.
