Alex Wood
Counter-Fraud Advisor and Campaign Partner
SquareTrade Europe
United Kingdom
SquareTrade Europe
United Kingdom
Alex Wood is a reformed offender whose criminal career spanned two decades and involved an estimated €60 million in fraud - from impersonating aristocracy to masterminding large-scale cybercrimes. Since his release from prison in 2022, he has become a leading voice in the counter-fraud community, advising governments, financial regulators, and major global financial institutions across Europe, helping them prevent emerging digital threats.
Sessions
7 Sep 2026 – 15:30
Dream Stage (Hall 25)
45 min
The anatomy of a scam: Staying protected in the AI age
What happens when the person who once ran scams takes the stage to explain them?
For the first time, SquareTrade brings that conversation to IFA.
A reformed scammer, behind an estimated €60 million in fraud, joins insurance, retail and media voices to reveal the anatomy of a modern scam. Exploring the tactics being deployed today, from deepfakes to social media scams to fake online stores and the risks facing younger generations today who are unwittingly recruited into criminal networks.
This panel unpacks the current state of play for European consumers in an increasingly digital, and increasingly risky, world.
For the first time, SquareTrade brings that conversation to IFA.
A reformed scammer, behind an estimated €60 million in fraud, joins insurance, retail and media voices to reveal the anatomy of a modern scam. Exploring the tactics being deployed today, from deepfakes to social media scams to fake online stores and the risks facing younger generations today who are unwittingly recruited into criminal networks.
This panel unpacks the current state of play for European consumers in an increasingly digital, and increasingly risky, world.
Track: World of AI & Future of Tech
Speakers
Language: English