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All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Fake Goods

    • March 8, 2010
    • BBC One

    We investigate the tragic tale of seven-year-old Connor O'Keefe who was electrocuted and died after using a fake power charger for his electronic game. Fake electricals are produced in the Far East but are potentially lethal. Fake Britain examines fake fuse boxes which are tested with alarming results.There's a look at the fake mini motorcycles that endangered the lives of the children they were bought for, and the case of the company which bought non-organic food, rebranded it as organic and made a small fortune.

  • S01E02 Fake Cash and Cards

    • March 9, 2010
    • BBC One

    We follow officers from the Metropolitan Police Economic Crime Squad as they battle their way through a heavily reinforced door to reveal a flat used as a fake credit card factory - and catch the forger red handed. Expert Robert Matthews, a former assayer of the Royal Mint, heads onto the streets of London to discover how many fake one pound coins are rattling around in our pockets.

  • S01E03 Fake Cars

    • March 10, 2010
    • BBC One

    When cloned vehicles - cars that have been stolen and given fake identities - are sold on, their unsuspecting new owners can lose both the car and their cash when they are confiscated by the police. The programme shows how to spot a clone by investigating two identical vehicles: one is real, the other is a fake.

  • S01E04 Fake Medicines

    • March 11, 2010
    • BBC One

    We investigate the huge market in unlicensed and fake medicines and show how easy it is to purchase a wide range of prescription drugs online without a prescription. An analysis of drugs bought by the programme to see what they actually contain brings shocking results. We meet the victims of pharmaceutical industry fakes and see the work of the MHRA, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority, as they try and track down the infiltration of fake medicine into the UK.

  • S01E05 Fake Identity

    • March 12, 2010
    • BBC One

    Dominic Littlewood reveals the extent of people using fake identities in the UK. We follow the UK Border agency as they intercept people with fake identities entering the country, and go inside the high security National Document Fraud Unit. We show how a man with no qualifications operated as a fake dentist, and look at the criminal gangs who are faking driving tests by getting experienced drivers to take the test in return for a payoff, putting hundreds of inexperienced drivers on our roads.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Episode 1

    • May 16, 2011
    • BBC One

    Fake Britain carries out the largest independent investigation ever undertaken in Britain of £1 coins given out over the counter by the high street banks - and we reveal how the banks are giving their customers a shockingly high percentage of fakes. We also follow the work of local police, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Royal Mint as they join forces to track down the £1 coin counterfeiters. We meet the man who was sent parking and speeding tickets but knew he wasn't responsible. We see how eventually the police discover that his car had been cloned, with disastrous results for the innocent purchasers of the cloned car - they lose both the vehicle and the money they paid for it as it is seized by the police. We meet Julie Smith and her daughter Paige from Oldham and hear the sad story of how they were duped by a fake pedigree certificate into buying a very sick puppy. And we reveal the story of the fake vet who used a fake degree certificate to go into business near Liverpool - with appalling results.

  • S02E02 Episode 2

    • May 17, 2011
    • BBC One

    Dominic Littlewood investigates the murky world of the loan sharks and follows the work of trading standards' illegal money lending teams. There's the story of one heartbroken mother whose son committed suicide as his loan shark debts mounted. How celebrity autographs are being faked and sold on at exorbitant prices. How UK Border Agency teams are stopping millions of pounds worth of fake goods coming into the country via Felixstowe docks, and the sophisticated tracking devices used by criminals on their illegal consignments. Plus the fake parking tickets racket uncovered by Wolverhampton trading standards officers.

  • S02E03 Episode 3

    • May 18, 2011
    • BBC One

    Dominic Littlewood reveals how families are being targeted by conmen when their children are on gap year trips abroad. We follow investigators from a leading pharmaceutical company who are hot on the trail of fake medicine dealers. Plus, the terrifying story of the fake and highly dangerous hair straighteners, and how deadly fake chainsaws were sold to unsuspecting members of the public. And the tragic story of how the offer of a job - which turned out to be fake - brought one young family to financial ruin. And we show the scale of the fake electricals industry in China by following the work of a UK investigator.

  • S02E04 Episode 4

    • May 19, 2011
    • BBC One

    With Dominic Littlewood. Birmingham's trading standards and West Midlands Police crack down on the crooks faking parking offences to fleece members of the public. We follow the South West England scambusters team as they track down a consignment of fake fashion destined for the City of Bristol. We reveal the extraordinary story of the fake educational qualifications racket. We show how a fake Lowry picture was sold to an unsuspecting buyer and how the seller finally ended in gaol. And UK Border Agency officers at Southampton docks inspect a suspect consignment and reveal fake Mexican beer - from China.

  • S02E05 Episode 5

    • May 20, 2011
    • BBC One

    We follow a private investigator working with police and trading standards as he tracks down one of the largest hauls of fake gold and jewellery ever discovered in the UK. And we see the work of the London Assay office as they analyse what the fake jewellery is really made of - with shocking results. We see how the UK Border Agency are stopping international forgers using air cargo to get fake ID into the country - how they reveal the fake holidaymaker and her 'crib sheet' of how to respond to immigration officials' questions. Plus, how they tracked down the fake footballer - the illegal immigrant who made a fortune by buying property using fake ID while he played football for local clubs. We meet the woman who was told by her bank that a fake copy of her passport had been presented to them to withdraw a huge sum of money. We see how a London employment agency has had to install high tech anti forgery equipment to check on fake documents - as they are now presented with so many forgeries. We follow the work of the NHS counterfraud unit as they tackle 'hospital hoppers' - fake patients who tie up valuable resources pretending to be ill. We show the work of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Maxim as they track down and arrest a master forger. We see Westminster Trading Standards officers and Premier league private investigators reveal the latest football shirt fakes on sale in London's West End.

  • S02E06 Episode 6

    • May 23, 2011
    • BBC One

    Police and trading standards officers raid a house where the occupants are selling fake fashion. A complete mobile fake vodka factory in a lorry is discovered just outside Scarborough. A huge consignment of fake Persil is tracked by investigators all the way from China to Cheshire and the fakers end up in prison. We follow the work of investigators from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and see them raid a fake medicines dealer. We see how tourists to London are tricked by criminals offering them fake holiday accommodation. And we follow the incredible story of how 108 million eggs were fraudulently relabelled in Britain's biggest ever fake food scam. We see how Customs and Excise uncover a huge fake vodka and tobacco factory in London and see how shops sell fake booze. And we reveal how a grandmother helped bring down a multi-million pound criminal empire selling fake golf equipment.

  • S02E07 Episode 7

    • May 24, 2011
    • BBC One

    We investigate the murky world of the loansharks and reveal the extraordinary case of the 78-year-old grandmother peddling fake loans. We meet Jane Badger, who was arrested in her own home and accused of fraud, even though she was entirely innocent, because a fraudster had made fake withdrawals on her credit card. We follow the story of the fake car brake pads being sold in Northern Ireland and see how they dramatically fail safety standards on the test track. We see a trading standards team as they go undercover, setting up a fake hen night to catch a limo company putting lives in danger. And we follow the investigators targeting the fakers who are making money out of one of the UK's most successful industries - computer games.

  • S02E08 Episode 8

    • May 25, 2011
    • BBC One

    We reveal the extraordinary story of the secret consignment of fake oil drilling parts tracked down by trading standards officers in Peterborough. We follow Customs and Excise officers on the trail of fake diesel - agricultural fuel that has had its red tell tale dye removed - and the criminals who peddle it. We meet the owners of so called mini pigs who have seen the fake perky porkers grow to be a lot bigger than expected. We meet the victims of an incredible scam; they have come home to find someone else living in their house - it's been rented out by a fake landlord. And we show the work of the undercover investigators from a software corporation who are tackling the software pirates.

  • S02E09 Episode 9

    • May 26, 2011
    • BBC One

    We reveal the extraordinary amount of fake electrical cable being found in the UK and put some of it to the test with alarming results. We follow the trading standards and police teams in the Midlands cracking down on the huge trade in fake and smuggled cigarettes. We show how people are being conned into believing that works of art they bought as antiques are anything but - because they have been made recently in Chinese factories. And art forgery expert Curtis Dowling shows us how the conmen go about creating fake collectibles. We meet the woman who paid for stem cell treatment believing it would cure her multiple sclerosis - only to find the treatment was fake. And we follow the extraordinary identity theft story of how a UK passport stolen on a stag weekend in Amsterdam put an innocent Brit in gaol ten years later in Lisbon - for a crime committed in Germany.

  • S02E10 Episode 10

    • May 27, 2011
    • BBC One

    We follow the UK Border Agency teams as they reveal illegal immigrants using fake documents to get work in restaurants in Hampshire. And we see them working with police and a local authority counter fraud team to arrest a fake benefits claimant. We reveal the extraordinary story of how fake wine was sold in a leading supermarket - and find out what was really in the bottle. We meet the two sisters who were victims of the fake ballet grades - their teacher was forging the certificates of dozens of her pupils. We follow trading standards officers as they discover the shop near London's West End stuffed full of fake designer goods and see how they also tackle the street traders openly selling fakes from market stalls. And we go out with a local authority blue badge enforcement unit as they confront the people faking their entitlement to use the badges issued to road users with disabilities.

  • S02E11 Episode 11

    • May 30, 2011
    • BBC One

    We reveal how fraudsters are counterfeiting the Euro. And we show how innocent British holidaymakers are being arrested abroad for unwittingly having the fake currency - like Carl Redden from Birmingham who was sentenced to 10 months in a prison in Cyprus and found himself locked up with hardened criminals. We reveal the distressing story of the fake pet cremations. Owners found the pets they had loved and thought had given dignified individual cremations to, were in fact dumped in fields. And the ashes of their pets, which they had treasured, turned out to be fake. We meet the woman who helped expose the fake DNA paternity test - as the father of her daughter tried to con his way out of his responsibilities. We meet the young woman who bought diet pills online only to find they included a banned substance that had a disastrous effect on her. And we reveal the extraordinary story of the fake buggy salesman who conned money out of young mums - but was tracked down by a campaigning grandmother.

  • S02E12 Episode 12

    • May 31, 2011
    • BBC One

    We reveal the distressing story of how Alfred Mason's daughter Lorna discovered that her father had lost his entire life savings of 800,000 pounds after falling victim to conmen selling fake investments - and how she found he had ended up living in squalor. We follow police and trading standards officers as they raid a suspected fake numberplates factory. We follow the work of the London Borough of Hillingdon's benefit fraud investigators as they search for fake claimants and discover a fraudster using fake ID. And we follow the story of the young woman who was conned by the fake faith healer. He pretended to be a supportive advisor but was tracked down by local trading standards officers who discovered he charged huge fees and lived a lavish lifestyle at the expense of his victims. And we meet Raymond Kaye and his wife Paula from Hull and hear the story of how Ray's desperation to win the holiday of a lifetime to Canada for Paula, led to his addiction to a fake prizes scam. It cost him their savings and almost their marriage.

  • S02E13 Episode 13

    • June 1, 2011
    • BBC One

    We reveal the extraordinary case of the holidaymaker who was arrested in Jamaica after luggage containing drugs was checked in under her name on a flight to the UK. We also meet the woman who booked a ski chalet for herself and a group of friends only to discover that the chalet did not exist. We investigate fake withdrawals from bank accounts and show sinister new equipment that could allow criminals to carry out what appear to be genuine transactions - by faking our pin numbers. We follow the story of how one man's visit to his family abroad was ruined after he was sold a fake airline ticket, how a fake literary agent conned dozens of victims - including one woman who was told the book she had written about her father was going to become a big budget movie - and we show how the lives of thousands of workers all over the country are being put in danger by fake safety equipment.

  • S02E14 Episode 14

    • June 2, 2011
    • BBC One

    We follow the UK Border Agency teams as they uncover illegal workers using fake documents to work in restaurants and take aways in Liverpool. We visit Newquay in Cornwall and show the increasing problem of fake IDs used by underage drinkers - and we see how a trading standards team shut down a company supplying the fake identification online. We meet the Suffolk businessman who fell for the fake overseas inheritance scam - which ultimately cost him his home and his life savings. We follow the work of an undercover insurance investigator as he tracks down a woman believed to be faking an insurance claim. And we meet the mother and daughter who thought they were buying their dream horse.

  • S02E15 Episode 15

    • June 3, 2011
    • BBC One

    We follow the UK Border Agency teams as they discover illegal immigrants using fake documents to get jobs in the capital. We meet the teaching assistant who believed her online romance was with an American soldier in Afghanistan - but it was a fake soldier and she was conned out of thousands of pounds. We see immigration officers at heathrow airport investigate a woman trying to enter the UK on a fake passport she had bought for thousands of dollars in Africa. We show some of the bizarre fake documents that travellers try and use to gain entry to the UK. We follow trading standards teams as they crack down on the burgeoning business of fake champagne and we reveal how people are faking their entitlement to disability blue badges so they can park for free and save thousands of pounds.

Season 3

  • S03E01 Episode 1

    • May 21, 2012
    • BBC One

    Police and UK Border Agency officers find more than they bargained for when they go on the hunt for fake passports. Fake Britain investigates the shocking cruelty of the fakers skinning animals alive in order to copy popular footwear brands, and goes on the trail of the fake landlords cheating the council house waiting list by illegally subletting council flats. And how safe are you when buying perfumes and fragrances online? Some of the most notorious internet sellers are put to the test.

  • S03E02 Episode 2

    • May 22, 2012
    • BBC One

    We're on the inside of an operation aimed at stopping the trade in fake medicines, and the dealers that make thousands from peddling them. Also featured are the story of the art forger whose fake Victorian fairy paintings were so good, they almost fooled the art world; the fake holiday villa conman who cost British tourists thousands; and how insurance investigators busted the bus-crash-for-cash fakers who thought they had come up with the perfect insurance fraud.

  • S03E03 Episode 3

    • May 23, 2012
    • BBC One

    We're on the road with the Greater Manchester police as they crack down on the fakers at the heart of the counterfeiting capital of Britain, the city's Strangeways district. We put the fake energy-saving plugs being targeted at the elderly to the test, and find out they could cost a lot more than just cash. And we catch up with the fake dental technician making illegal dentures from a laundry room.

  • S03E04 Episode 4

    • May 24, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, the fake DVD factory making £100,000 a week - we're out with the enforcement agencies who'll stop at nothing to halt their illegal activity. Could your child be playing with dangerous fake toys? We put cheap Chinese counterfeits, from cuddly animals to babydolls, to the test. Plus, the art forger who made tens of thousands faking the paintings of famous fine artists. And the story of the NHS dentist who treated hundreds of patients after faking her qualifications - we find out how the authorities brought her career of lies to an abrupt end.

  • S03E05 Episode 5

    • May 25, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, the banknote counterfeiting gang that tried to beat the Bank of England - we're with the City of London police as they give the money forgers a very rude awakening. Plus the battlefield tour conman who took war veterans for a ride by taking them nowhere at all, and the terrifying new credit card fakery that's almost completely undetectable.

  • S03E06 Episode 6

    • May 28, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, we're with the City of London police as they go in pursuit of one of the country's most audacious ID fraudsters, whose fakery is taking hundreds of thousands of pounds off the state and into his pocket. We reveal the fake veterinary medicines that made two fraudsters millions but could cost you more than just money. Plus the fake baby carriers putting your child's safety in jeopardy, and how one faker even compromised aircraft fire extinguishers.

  • S03E07 Episode 7

    • May 29, 2012
    • BBC One

    This episode features a look at the latest in cutting-edge insurance fraud: faking pet insurance claims, including the woman that kept dead puppies in her freezer to try and hoodwink the insurers. Brent and Harrow Trading Standards take on the market traders that are the public face of the multi-million pound industry in fake clothing. Plus the fake cigarette factories on your doorstep, and the dangers that lurk inside fake cigarette; and the fakery that is going on in pubs and clubs up and down Britain: the pint that is not a pint.

  • S03E08 Episode 8

    • May 30, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, the scandal of the fake charity collections taking advantage of your generosity - we see for ourselves how it's done, and how it's costing legitimate charities millions. Plus the chip shops shifting fake fish, and the perils of not knowing what you are eating; the growing trend of people faking their own death for insurance claims; and the fake firework-bangers being sold to schoolchildren, which are both illegal and dangerous. Since the making of this programme, Macmillan Cancer Support have asked us to point out that they do now make home clothing collections.

  • S03E09 Episode 9

    • May 31, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, the fake firefighter crying wolf to relieve honest shopkeepers of their cash... at gunpoint. And the dangerous counterfeit vodka that could leave you with more than just a headache - we're with Trading Standards as they crack down on the shopkeepers that are selling it.

  • S03E10 Episode 10

    • June 1, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, we're out with the Driving Standards Agency as they clamp down on the driving test fakers taking tests for people who shouldn't be on the road. Plus the dancing benefits scrounger who faked disability to get hundreds of thousands of pounds of your money; the fake gym equipment that could leave you with a nasty injury; and the fake make-up coming to a market stall near you

  • S03E11 Episode 11

    • June 4, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, Fake Britain is given exclusive access to the country's biggest postal hub to see the extraordinary range of fake goods flooding into the UK. Also featured is the story of the two old-fashioned criminals who forged the works of world-famous street artist Banksy, and the collector-turned-sleuth who solved the case. Plus the fake lonely heart whose charm lured pensioners out of thousands of pounds, and the fake perfume trader running a lucrative industry from his own home

  • S03E12 Episode 12

    • June 5, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, Fake Britain goes on patrol with Trading Standards as they take on the takeaway pizza restaurants fooling the public with fake ingredients, such as ham toppings that are actually made of turkey. Plus the hi-vis clothing with fake safety claims on their labels, and the fake burglar alarm company conning pensioners out of thousands of pounds.

  • S03E13 Episode 13

    • June 6, 2012
    • BBC One

    In this episode, Fake Britain meets the man who turned detective to catch the faker who stole both his identity and £7,000 of his money. Plus the clamping firm faking fines to make money out of you; and the victims of the fake lorry driver's course, conned out of thousands.

  • S03E14 Episode 14

    • June 7, 2012
    • BBC One

    Fake Britain looks at the hidden, underground cigarette factory in China churning out millions of fake cigarettes that are being sold on the streets of Britain. Trading Standards in Birmingham take a stand against the mobile phone shops selling fake and dangerous chargers. Plus the fake HIV testing kits taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable, and the fake microphones that are not only badly made but sound even worse.

  • S03E15 Episode 15

    • June 8, 2012
    • BBC One

    This episode reveals the appalling truth behind the fake cancer-curing machine used to con money out of people in their hour of need. Plus, the massive consignment of lethal fake lighters cashing in on the London Olympics; Fake Britain meets the granny accused of being a faker after trying to sell an old handbag for 99p; and the international counterfeit money raids that are keeping the fake euros out of your pocket.

Season 4

  • S04E01 Episode 1

    • April 29, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright hosts the consumer show exploring to what extent people use counterfeit goods in the UK. In this edition, he investigates criminals who import puppies with fake passports, parents who forge their wage slips to avoid paying child maintenance, and crooked sellers flogging fake high-end watches for thousands of pounds

  • S04E02 Episode 2

    • April 30, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates potentially deadly counterfeit child car seats, a sham marriage that was stopped by the UK Border Agency and the forged £20 notes that are causing problems around the country

  • S04E03 Episode 3

    • May 1, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates more counterfeit goods across the UK, looking at how a seven-year-old's life-threatening electric shock led to the discovery of dangerous fake smartphone chargers. Plus, how copycat products are harming one of the UK's most successful companies

  • S04E04 Episode 4

    • May 2, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the powerful laser pointers that are capable of causing blindness, and the counterfeit laptop chargers that could engender serious damage. Plus, a fraudster who used multiple identities to claim millions of pounds

  • S04E05 Episode 5

    • May 3, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates more counterfeit goods across the UK, looking at bogus teeth-whitening kits, phony charity bags and the trade in fake Second World War memorabilia

  • S04E06 Episode 6

    • May 6, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates a confectionery con aimed at children, as well as counterfeit sunscreen that fails to protect against harmful UV rays. He also learns about a man who went to extreme lengths to fake his death by forging his own ashes

  • S04E07 Episode 7

    • May 7, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates imitation car airbags that can kill and counterfeit handbags that are costing unsuspecting buyers hundreds of pounds. Plus, the presenter finds out about the car number plates on sale that can get drivers arrested

  • S04E08 Episode 8

    • September 19, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates fake henna that can scar people's skin for life, and the problem of counterfeit top-of-the-range chefs' knives being sold to the public and restaurants. Plus, car servicing software on the black market that could make vehicles too dangerous to drive

  • S04E09 Episode 9

    • May 9, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the dangerous fake dental equipment that has been found in some British surgeries, and how a group of art forgers made hundreds of thousands of pounds selling counterfeit paintings. Plus, an elaborate plot to help immigrants pass citizenship exams

  • S04E10 Episode 10

    • May 10, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the substandard food products masquerading as premium goods, and examines counterfeit medical products that can cause diseases. Plus, a website that has provided thousands of criminals with false identities. Last in the series

Season 5

  • SPECIAL 0x3 Special: Furniture Inferno

    • January 13, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright presents a special investigation revealing that sofas and mattresses being sold by some of the UK's best-known retailers are illegal and potentially lethal. The UK has some of the toughest fire regulations for furniture in the world and consumers expect that furniture they buy will be safe. But Fake Britain discovers that some furniture dramatically fails crucial fire safety checks and some items are even being sold with fake fire safety

  • S05E01 Episode 1

    • April 28, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out how a man has been tracking down lethal counterfeit booze after his 23-year-old daughter was fatally poisoned by fake gin.

  • S05E02 Episode 2

    • April 29, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out more about lorry drivers who have been falsifying their working hours records, and learns what effect this can have on other road users.

  • S05E03 Episode 3

    • April 30, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out more about the dangerous fake motorcycle safety wear on sale tin Britain.

  • S05E04 Episode 4

    • May 1, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out more about the trade in fake cancer drugs and also finds out more about the fake job references on sale online.

  • S05E05 Episode 5

    • May 2, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt takes a look at the murky world of fake jobs, and meets the man who came close to losing everything after his dream job turned out to be a complex fraud.

  • S05E06 Episode 6

    • May 5, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt takes a look at the work of the National Crime Agency as they attempt to crack down on suspected ID fakers.

  • S05E07 Episode 7

    • May 6, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out more about he fake Facebook profiles making people's lives difficult and also learns about fake washing powder and the dangers it poses to the public.

  • S05E08 Episode 8

    • May 7, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out more about the danger on the country's roads as he investigates the fake car insurance that is putting everybody at risk.

  • S05E09 Episode 9

    • May 8, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt learns about how a fake insurance document left one man blinded and scarred for life and also finds out more about the fake car accessories flooding the market.

  • S05E10 Episode 10

    • May 9, 2014
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out more about the fake fundraising websites stealing money from those who need it most.

  • S05E11 Episode 11

    • December 1, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E12 Episode 12

    • December 2, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E13 Episode13

    • December 3, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E14 Episode 14

    • December 4, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E15 Episode 15

    • December 5, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E16 Episode 16

    • December 8, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E17 Episode 17

    • December 9, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E18 Episode 18

    • December 10, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E19 Episode 19

    • December 11, 2014
    • BBC One

  • S05E20 Episode 20

    • December 12, 2014
    • BBC One

Season 6

  • S06E01 Episode 1

    • November 23, 2015
    • BBC One

    The faux fur that's actually real animal fur, and the high street chains that have been selling it. The faker who conned job seekers out of thousands and then implicated one of his own victims in the crime. They may look cute on the outside, but inside these fake night lights are seriously ugly. And fake boxing gear that's leaving gym-goers black and blue.

  • S06E02 Episode 2

    • November 24, 2015
    • BBC One

    The movie Frozen has won the hearts of children across the world, but the fake merchandise has left one little girl scarred for life. The fake hi-tech coats that could have chilling consequences. Fake hair extensions that led to the worst bad hair day ever. And the fraudsters trying to steal millions from taxpayers and charities.

  • S06E03 Episode 3

    • November 25, 2015
    • BBC One

    The fake sunglasses that could seriously harm your health. The puppies with fake identities being trafficked into the country. We have a close shave with fake razor blades. And the fake brake pads that could cost you your life.

  • S06E04 Episode 4

    • November 26, 2015
    • BBC One

    The tradesmen faking trade association logos to rip off homeowners. The fake edible glitter that you wouldn't want to eat. The fake bailiffs threatening small businesses. And the fake breathalysers that could cost you your licence and your life.

  • S06E05 Episode 5

    • November 27, 2015
    • BBC One

    Police crack open a counterfeit champagne case where the fakers are making a killing. We're given one of the most sophisticated fake £2 coins ever seen from the one place you'd never expect - a high street bank. The fake chairs putting child safety at risk. And the fake carbon monoxide detectors that could cost you your life.

  • S06E06 Episode 6

    • November 30, 2015
    • BBC One

    Matt finds out how fake documents are being used to smuggle illegal food and animal products into the country. Plus the single fake email which cost one house-buying couple nearly £100,000. Her work is highly collectable but could you tell the real Clarice Cliff from the fake? Also, the websites helping students to fake their way to a degree. And our investigation uncovers how banned cancer-causing dyes are being used to fake the colour of food.

  • S06E07 Episode 7

    • December 1, 2015
    • BBC One

    Matt reveals the scandal of fake part-worn tyres that are an accident waiting to happen. Plus an exposure of the fake face mask filters putting workers lives at risk. Also, an investigation into the counterfeit games controllers packing a potentially shocking punch. And the dangerous fakes of British designs which are fooling the public.

  • S06E08 Episode 8

    • December 2, 2015
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright reveals the trade in fire blankets whose safety claims go up in smoke. Plus an unwelcome visit to the suspects thought to be running counterfeit operations at their own homes. And an exposure of the fake tattoo inks that could mean clients get a lethal injection.

  • S06E09 Episode 9

    • December 3, 2015
    • BBC One

    The dangerous ladders that could lead to disaster and the fluffy hot water bottles that could kill a child. Plus on the frontline battling the identity fakers - the experts using technology to reveal counterfeit documents. And the fake wood burning stove installers putting lives at risk.

  • S06E10 Episode 10

    • December 4, 2015
    • BBC One

    This episode features fake clothing banks that are fleecing kind-hearted Brits, fake identity cards that could lead to a construction site catastrophe and a fake steam mop that could give a real shock.

Season 7

  • S07E01 Episode 1

    • August 29, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode looks at the terrifying revelation that fake lifesaving equipment got into the NHS. Plus fake cashmere being sold online that could contain rat fur and the chilling story of the fake ice cream vans that threatened the survival of a British classic.

  • S07E02 Episode 2

    • August 30, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode examines the counterfeit Dreams mattresses being sold across the UK, the fake laser pens that caused permanent damage to a child's eye, and the fake airport meet-and-greet driver who took a car for 117mph spin and left the owners' cars in a field.

  • S07E03 Episode 3

    • August 31, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode uncovers the fake and dangerous fuses being sold on the high street. Plus there is a visit to the counterfeit capital of the UK as police launch a major crackdown and an investigation into the fake online reviews that ruined one boy's Christmas.

  • S07E04 Episode 4

    • September 1, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode investigates the fake hoverboards catching fire in people's homes, the counterfeit designer jackets that are deceiving consumers and making thousands for the fakers, and the sophisticated silver copies of high street jewellery which contain no silver at all.

  • S07E05 Episode 5

    • September 2, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode investigates the fake taxis that changed one woman's life forever and are putting thousands of passengers in danger, the fake celebrity endorsements which are tempting shoppers into spending and losing hundreds of pounds, and the counterfeit cameras that are not what they seem.

  • S07E06 Episode 6

    • September 5, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode looks at the fake teeth-whitening businesses that ruined customers' teeth, fake headphones, fake halogen heaters which put a woman's life in danger and the hidden secrets of the fake beauty gadgets.

  • S07E07 Episode 7

    • September 6, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode investigates the fake sports memorabilia that cost collectors thousands, how fake debt collectors were finally brought to justice, how the latest must-have kitchen gadget is being faked and how fakers are cashing in on the latest running trend.

  • S07E08 Episode 8

    • September 7, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode looks at the fake prom dress that ruined one teenager's big day, the fake memory cards that put your most precious moments at risk, the fake car headlamp bulbs that could cause a serious accident and an art faker who conned collectors.

  • S07E09 Episode 9

    • September 8, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode looks at the fake energy-saving schemes that are tricking customers, the fake concert tickets that ruined one couple's marriage plans, the huge business in fake TV remote controls and the fake children's illuminated balloons that prove to be dangerous.

  • S07E10 Episode 10

    • September 9, 2016
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright investigates the conmen who are trying to get their hands on your money by using fakes, forgeries and frauds, and shows you how to avoid being taken for a ride. This episode looks at the fake fairy lights that almost killed a customer, the fake stethoscopes that could stop a doctor making a life-saving diagnosis, the booming trade in fake jewellery and how the police are tackling a new generation of high-end fake DVDs.

Season 8

  • S08E01 Fake Video Games

    • September 18, 2017
    • BBC One

    Dominic Littlewood learns about the fake video game merchandise that blinded one young boy and the fake climbing equipment that could have catastrophic results. And the programme follows the authorities as they raid corner shops in search of ingeniously hidden counterfeit cigarettes.

  • S08E02 Fake Fire-resistant Glass

    • September 19, 2017
    • BBC One

    Dominic Littlewood looks at the fake fire-resistant glass that was installed in schools, hospitals and churches across the UK and the fake supermarket reward cards that are leaving thousands deceived and disappointed. Officers also reveal the secret tunnels beneath a London high street.

  • S08E03 Fake Pedigree Cats

    • September 20, 2017
    • BBC One

    Dominic Littlewood looks at the cold callers making fake medical claims to rip off the elderly and vulnerable, the fake pedigree cats that turned out to be ordinary moggies and the fake back protectors putting motorcyclists at risk.

  • S08E04 Fake Postage Stamps

    • September 21, 2017
    • BBC One

    Featuring the fake postage stamps being sold on high streets, fake toys that could leave children with lethal battery burns, the fake celebrity lip gloss that has horrific contents and the fake receipts deceiving buyers into paying over £400 for counterfeit trainers.

  • S08E05 Fake Flight Tickets

    • September 22, 2017
    • BBC One

    Featuring the fake food hygiene ratings in the windows of restaurants, cafes and takeaways across the UK, fake phone apps that allow criminals to spy on people and steal personal information, the fake slimmingmachine that goes up in flames and fake flight tickets leaving Brits stranded and out of pocket.

  • S08E06 Fake Cancer Cure

    • September 25, 2017
    • BBC One

    Featuring the lorries on Britain's roads with devices that fake their emissions, the fake cancer cure causing life-changing injuries and the children's food bowl that is a danger to health.

  • S08E07 Fake Homes

    • September 26, 2017
    • BBC One

    Featuring the faker selling homes that didn't exist, fake printer helplines targeting the most vulnerable members of society, fake children's cycle helmets putting lives at risk and the enforcement operation that reveals the latest tricks in the fake tobacco scam.

  • S08E08 Fake E-cigarettes

    • September 27, 2017
    • BBC One

    Featuring a look at the fake Dyson vacuum servicing that ripped off thousands of customers, dangerous fake headtorches that could explode, fake protein shakes that barely contain any protein and fake nicotine-free e-cigarettes that could turn you into an addict.

  • S08E09 Fake Email Scams

    • September 28, 2017
    • BBC One

    Featuring the fake email scam stealing thousands from kids' football teams, the tricks used by smugglers to get fakes into the country, the fake perfume that is a health hazard and fake free-range bacon.

  • S08E10 Fake Clothing

    • September 29, 2017
    • BBC One

    This episode features the fake numbing cream that has life-changing consequences, a look at how the UK authorities are cracking down on fake clothing, the dogs' home charity that lost thousands in a fake advertising con and a fake golf equipment business.

Season 9

  • S09E01 Episode 1

    • November 25, 2019
    • BBC One

    The terrifying discovery of counterfeit contact lenses that are not sterile and risk wearers' eyesight. We're with the police as they arrest the culprits behind a fake website racket that robbed innocent Brits of tens of millions of pounds, and Michelle finds out what's real and what's fake in the world of celebrity memorabilia.

  • S09E02 Episode 2

    • November 26, 2019
    • BBC One

    The nightmare of fake car insurance, which has left tens of thousands of people unwittingly driving around uninsured on Britain’s roads. Could you be one of them? The fake health supplements that are totally useless, containing none of the advertised active ingredients. The counterfeit dog harnesses putting the lives of our precious pets at risk,. Meanwhile, Michelle is with the experts as they tell members of the public if their precious jewellery is a genuine gem or a worthless fake.

  • S09E03 Episode 3

    • November 27, 2019
    • BBC One

    The fake alcohol being served to British holiday makers in Greece, which left one woman blind. The fake internet fixes that have left thousands of Brits penniless, the children’s squishy toys that contain gender-altering chemicals, and the dodgy lighting that is literally shocking.

  • S09E04 Episode 4

    • November 28, 2019
    • BBC One

    Border Force officers intercept potentially lethal fake medicines at a UK postal hub, the counterfeit Dyson hairdryers that are more than just a rip-off, the vinyl copies that are fleecing record collectors out of thousands, and Michelle is with the experts in Leeds separating real and fake designer clothing brought in by the locals.

  • S09E05 Episode 5

    • November 29, 2019
    • BBC One

    We reveal the fake online reviews ruining small businesses, as rivals pay others to trash their competitors. The counterfeit car parts that increase your fuel costs and put lives at risk, the fake vaccination scam that jeopardised the lives of thousands of new-born puppies, and Michelle meets the experts in modern collectables as they separate the real from the fake.

  • S09E06 Episode 6

    • December 2, 2019
    • BBC One

    The fake buffalo mozzarella being sold on supermarket pizzas, fake hearing aids that could make you deaf, the fake accountants leaving people in financial ruin, and Michelle shows how to identify fake emails and dangerous links, and reveals how criminals can even embed fake messages into a legitimate text chain on your phone.

  • S09E07 Episode 7

    • December 3, 2019
    • BBC One

    The terrifying story of an innocent holidaymaker locked up in a Dubai prison after unwittingly changing a fake £20 note. We’re out with the National Crime Agency as they raid the homes of currency counterfeiters. The fake laptop batteries and the life-changing injuries they can cause, and more dangerous fake toys being sold on the high street.

  • S09E08 Episode 8

    • December 4, 2019
    • BBC One

    The fake Botox treatment that left one woman with life-changing injuries. The useless counterfeit board games leaving thousands out of pocket and the legitimate companies dealing with angry customers in their wake. And Michelle finds out the eye-watering truth about fake make up.

  • S09E09 Episode 9

    • December 5, 2019
    • BBC One

    We're out with police and trading standards on a major operation targeting people selling counterfeit goods. We reveal the fake waste disposal companies that could take you to the cleaners and the deadly fake camping stoves that explode when lit, while Michelle is with the experts to check whether some electrical goods owned by the public are real or fake.

  • S09E10 Episode 10

    • December 6, 2019
    • BBC One

    The fake cash machine scam used by criminals to steal millions of pounds, the fake medical devices that could prove deadly, and the counterfeit wireless phone chargers that can set your house on fire. Also, Michelle tests fake Airpods and reveals the harm they can cause.

Additional Specials

  • SPECIAL 0x1 Bogus Booze Special

    • July 18, 2011
    • BBC One

    A look at the multi-million pound counterfeit alcohol industry.

  • SPECIAL 0x2 Fake Food Special

    • May 3, 2013
    • BBC One

    Matt Allwright presents this special edition of Fake Britain investigating food fraud in the UK, revealing problems in all kinds of produce, from fish and chips to takeaway pizza. Plus, the high-end food fakery which saw supermarket food re-labelled as organic and sold at a premium; and frozen strawberries from China used to make exclusive and very expensive 'English strawberry