BBC News Legend Moira Stuart Issues Warning After Nearly Falling Victim to Bank Scam

Broadcasting legend Moira Stuart, 75, has shared her frustration and anger after nearly falling victim to a sophisticated bank scam.

Fraudsters targeted the Classic FM presenter and tried to convince her to transfer a large sum of money from her account.

Moira spoke of her devastation after nearly being scammed (Picture: BT Group and AbilityNet)

Despite her years of experience as a journalist, Stuart admitted she didn’t initially suspect the scam. She said to *The Times*, “I was very aware of scams, but I never thought I’d be a target.” She decided to speak out to help others avoid the same “shame and embarrassment.”

Moria said she never thought she would fall victim to a scam due to her years of reporting (Picture: Comic Relief/Comic Relief via Getty Images)

The scammers contacted Stuart on her landline, pretending to be her bank. Since her number was ex-directory, she didn’t question the call. They claimed a bank staff member had stolen from her account as part of an “inside job” and asked her to transfer money to help them catch the culprits.

Moira said she felt absolutely devastated and embarrassed’ (Picture: Richard Lewis/WireImage)

Fortunately, while still on the call with the fraudsters, Stuart went to her bank in person. The cashier quickly recognised the situation and connected her with the anti-fraud team, who were able to stop the scam.

Stuart reflected on the incident, describing her devastation, embarrassment, and anger. “As an independent person, you feel like you’ve let yourself and your family down,” she said.

The newsreader, who made history as the first woman of Caribbean heritage to appear on British national TV news, wants to raise awareness about scams to help reduce the stigma surrounding them. “It’s important to talk about these experiences,” she added.

Moria Stewart was targetted by a gang of scammers who tried to steal money from her bank account (Picture: PA)

Stuart has had a distinguished career, joining BBC News in the 1980s. She currently hosts *The Hall of Fame Concert* on Classic FM and was awarded a CBE in 2022 for services to media.