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Money Box: Self Employment and Scam Texts

22/04/2023

Self Employment and Scam Texts

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, Self Employment and Scam Texts

What are the financial challenges of setting up a business on your own?

The £1.3m stolen last year by criminals using so-called 'hi mum' or 'hi dad' scam text messages.

This week, the Office for National Statistics employment data showed that one reason behind the increase in the number of people in work is the growth in self-employment. Though the total numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels, more people are now starting a new business.  We'll hear from four entrepreneurs about their experiences and have some advice for anyone thinking about doing so. 

Money Box has learned more than 1,100 people have reported having had a total of £1.3m stolen from them in the last year by criminals using so called "hi mum" or "hi dad" scam messages. The figures from Action Fraud peaked in the run up to Christmas but the scam is still very active with hundreds of thousands of pounds being stolen in the first three months of this year alone.  What should you look out for?

We often talk about the cost of living and the effect of rising inflation on lower income households, but this week there is new evidence of how it is hitting people earning between £40,000 and £80,000.  We'll hear from Royal London whose research found over a third of people had gone overdrawn or borrowed in other ways - some even taking out expensive payday loans.

And a new report suggests tens of millions of pounds belonging to about 80,000 young people without mental capacity to make financial decisions could be locked in trust funds.  What does that mean for families and what is the government's response?

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Dan Whitworth
Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner
Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12noon Saturday 22nd April, 2023)

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