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The Digital Human

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world

BBC Radio 4 FM

The Digital Human: Series 12

The Digital Human: Series 12: Duped

Factual

Factual: Science & Nature

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16/10/2017

Duped

Series 12

BBC Radio 4 - The Digital Human, Series 12, Duped

Aleks Krotoski explores the world of spam, scams and caches of forgotten gold.

If scams are symptomatic of their time, what do they tell us about now and what do they say about us?

Spam and its prevention have been a driving force in the history of the internet. It's changed laws and communities, language and culture.

It comes in all shapes and forms, the most popular of which is advance fee scams. You know the drill: an agent for the widow of charitable billionaire wants to give you a share of a multi million-dollar 'inheritance'... in return for your help in getting access to it by posing as a cousin or a niece. 

But this type of spam isn't just a feature of digital living; it's been around a lot longer than that. 

The Digital Human traces the roots of the longest running spam scam in human history, before casting ahead to a world of intelligent spambots. 

Aleks Krotoski asks if scams are symptomatic of their time, what do they tell us about now and what do they say about us?

Producer: Caitlin Smith.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Aleks Krotoski explores life in the digital age.

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