Writing Wrongs Live! 2026: The Fraud Files

*Warning: This episode contains discussion of coercive communication and fraud including romance and investmentfraud. Listener discretion is advised.*   This special episode was recorded live with audience participation in the very atmospheric venue of West Midlands Police Museum at the Old Steelhouse Lane Lockup on 28th October 2026, as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science. Tim and Nicci are joined by two distinguished guests, Dr Elisabeth Carter from Kingston University London and Dr Rasha Kassem from Aston University, to examine three cases of romance and investment fraud. They discuss how linguistic expertise sheds light on the manipulative strategies employed by fraudsters, give advice on protecting ourselves and others from this threat, and answer insightful questions from our fantastic live audience. If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to our previous conversation with Dr Elisabeth Carter (S1 E4 Romance Fraud: The Linguistic Crime Scene), and last year’s live podcast episode (S2 E4 Writing Wrongs Live!). Have a question for Nicci or Tim? Email us at [email protected] and we may answer it during an upcoming episode!   Check out the official AIFL blog for more forensic linguistic goodies here: https://medium.com/@AIFLblog   If you have been affected by any of the themes in thisweek’s episode, please contact one of these free sources: Report Fraud: ⁠https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/⁠ City of London Police resources on ⁠romance fraud⁠ and ⁠investment fraud⁠ https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ https://www.helpguide.org/find-help   Production Team: Jordan Robertson, NeusAlberich Buera, Karolina Placzynta, Noorin Iqbal, Amy Brown, Laurence Romain, Michaela Wolf, Maddie Clark, Daisy Etell, Ella Harman Sound: Dave Ison, Premier Production Editing: Angela Walker Visual design: George Grant Additional Voices: Kirsty Benson, Maddie Clark,Madison Hunter, Daisy Etell, Dana Roemling, Lauren Morgan, Helen Gilfoyle, Sophie Jones, Jon Darling. Photo credits: Noorin Iqbal, Elisabeth Carter, TimGrant, Jordan Robertson, Amy Brown, Ella Harman, Daisy Etell, Laurence Romain.   With special thanks to the West Midlands Police Museum.    Dr Elisabeth Carter’s home page: ElisabethCarter – Kingston University London Dr Rasha Kassem’s home page: Rasha Kassem –Aston Research Explorer Professor Tim Grant’s home page: TimGrant – Aston Research Explorer Dr Nicci MacLeod’s home page: Nicci MacLeod –Aston Research Explorer