Fake emails, bogus calls, spoof texts: Fraudsters are exploiting the pandemic to fleece as many unwitting victims as they can. So how to spot a scam and keep your money safe? Join Felicity Hannah and a panel of experts offering top tips to avoid being scammed. Share your experiences by emailing [email protected] or tweet @moneybox

Guests:

Producer: Sally Abrahams

During the health pandemic a fraud epidemic has been growing. The latest official crime survey found fraud accounts for a third of all crime in England and Wales. It costs the UK economy tens of billions of pounds and very often individuals many thousands of pounds. But the cost is much more than just financial. It can be emotionally and mentally devastating. Money Box has been given access to a rare recording of fraud in progress. An expert assesses what made it so believable and one of the most senior fraud investigators in the UK tells us what he's doing about this kind of financial crime.

Also on the programme, the car finance customers stuck with a vehicle they cannot use and no longer own but they still have to tax and insure it.

As government advice changes and people are asked to go back to work, many childcare providers remain closed. So do employers need to make any allowances?

And in the podcast, will house prices go up or fall - a listener asks should he buy now or wait?

Presenter: Paul Lewis

If you're claiming benefits for the first time because of coronavirus, what’s your experience? Millions of people who have lost their jobs or their income since lockdown, are having to apply for Universal Credit for the first time to help meet basic living costs. But how much do you get and how long before the money comes through? Join Paul Lewis and a panel of benefits experts offering advice on how to claim, what you might get and how to avoid pitfalls. Email your questions and stories to [email protected] or tweet @moneybox

Guests:

Producer: Sally Abrahams

The organisation charged by the government to provide debt advice says it expects the number of people in financial difficulties to soar by 60% as the economic crisis begins to hit home. By late 2021 it expects that eight million people will have not been able to pay at least three bills in a six month period. And there are growing concerns that people with severe debt are being exploited by firms selling Individual Voluntary Agreements - a formal debt solution to pay back debts - which the firms make money from.

Saving, if you can afford it. With interest rates at record lows, what is the motivation to save? Some community schemes think they have the answer.

And Ofcom say it's concerned 'some customers are not being treated fairly' when it comes to being charged for keeping email addresses after switching provider - available to listen to in our podcast edition.

Presenter: Paul Lewis

Schools partially closed, nurseries struggling to reopen, grandparents shielding, childminders grappling with social distancing and a lack of au pairs because of travel restrictions. Arguably the UK faces a childcare crisis. At the same time, lockdown is being lifted, the Job Retention Scheme is being wound down, and the government is urging us all back to work to rebuild our shattered economy.

But how can parents work without affordable, quality childcare? And how can childcare providers deliver if they don't have the cash coming in? What help is available if you’re income’s dried up, but you still have fees to pay or overheads to settle?

Louise Cooper and a panel of experts are here to answer your childcare questions.

Guests:

Producer: Sally Abrahams

As quarantine is lifted and airports get ready for summer flights, are some airlines taking advantage of people who are being offered the opportunity to rebook their flights?

Earlier this week Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined how he planned to get the economy up and running again following the harm done by coronavirus. Front and centre was a £2bn "kick-start' scheme to create more jobs for young people. But does it go far enough? Poppy and Ataysha - two young people who could be helped - tell us what they think. With Sam Windett, Chair of the Youth Employment Group.

There were also big announcements on the coronavirus job retention scheme with £1000 promised for every person firms bring back to work after being put on furlough. But we hear about the furlough scheme sums that were just too tricky for one employment agency. With Lucy McLynn, Partner and Head of Employment at BatesWells.

Plus stampduty, VAT and eating out.

Presenter: Paul Lewis

Online lectures yet full tuition fees; socialising at a distance and virtual fresher's events - all because of the pandemic. So is it financially worthwhile going to uni this year, if you won't be getting the university experience you’d hoped for or dreamed of? How valuable is a degree for your future earnings? Is it better to do an apprenticeship, to earn as you learn? Or ditch higher education altogether and dive into the uncertain jobs market?

Join Adam Shaw and a panel of guests - and share your views and experiences. Email [email protected] or tweet @moneybox

Guests:

Producer: Sally Abrahams

Just days after a damning House of Lords report, Money Box can reveal that loot boxes in some games aimed at children have win rates of as little as 0.01%. Experts are worried this could get children hooked on gambling.

The courts have ordered changes in the way income is calculated which will mean more money for thousands of people on Universal Credit.

And we hear from one listener who got his money back for a cancelled holiday through his debit card but now the company is trying to take it back.

Presenter: Paul Lewis

The government-backed loans designed to give small firms quick and easy access to cash during the coronavirus crisis. If you've applied for one, what's your experience? Has it saved your business from collapse? Many listeners have contacted us, angry and frustrated at the time it's taking to get the loans approved. For some, time is running out. Without income, how can they pay the bills, never mind adapt to the new phase of lockdown? Unless they get this emergency cash, they're worried they won't survive.

Money Box Live wants to hear your questions, stories and successes. Email [email protected] or tweet @moneybox

Guests:

Presenter: Louise Cooper

Listeners whose holidays have been cancelled are telling us that they are having to pay to get their money back off their credit card. With Helen Saxon, Banking Editor at MoneySavingExpert.

Thousands of parents are using lockdown as an excuse not to pay maintenance for their children. Single parent charity Gingerbread say that Covid-19 is making things worse and that the official service that should make them pay is not checking what they say.

The face masks that cost $10 to buy but $109 to deliver - and still don’t arrive. The dangers of believing ads on Instagram and social media.

Presenter: Paul Lewis