Mike Soutar, known for his forensic interrogation of candidates on The Apprentice, has been caught out by scammers.
He has admitted being conned in a gift card trick that he thought was a request from Scottish businessman Tim Allan.
Mr Soutar has now told his followers on a social media platform how he got caught out and was lucky not to lose his money.
“When Tim Allan CBE asks you to take on an assignment you snap to it,” he said. “Not only is he my inspiring chairman on the board of the V&A Museum in Scotland, he is also an ex-tank commander.
“So when he emails a request for me to take on a “special assignment” early on Saturday morning I am intrigued.”
Mr Allan asked him to buy some vouchers for some of the members of his team to recognise their hard work, over and above the call of duty.
“This is typical Tim. Brilliant at knowing the right time to make a personal gesture,” said Mr Soutar who exchanged emails, until he received a message saying: ‘Can you get the vouchers in the next 20-30 minutes?’
“Erm, OK, I reply, but it’ll have to be online. ‘That’s fine’, he says: ‘just get iTune gift cards, do £450-worth, send me the PINs and keep the cards in an envelope for me.’
“He sounds a bit stressed and impatient so I try to call him. I get no answer but, pressed for time myself, I buy £150 of vouchers. My credit card flags the second transaction and blocks it. I curse the overcautious fraud filter, and… …oh hang on.
“I tap on Tim’s name at the top of the email address. It is not his email address. I message him. He phones me back. ‘What’s all this about vouchers?’
“I’ve been scammed. And this is the part that stings. Not the money. (I get that back.) Not the perceived loss of face explaining it all to Tim. It’s the sense of shame. The stomach-punch to your self-worth. The voice in your head saying: ‘You absolute mug, Mike. How did you fall for it?’
Mr Soutar is one of the stalwarts of Lord Sugar’s BBC show and is known for giving the final candidates a thorough examination of their business plans.
“The irony is not lost on me,” he admitted. “I’m the man who catches unwitting candidates out on The Apprentice!”
“But scams don’t prey on stupidity. They prey on timing. On stress. On distraction. They exploit trust. That’s why so many victims don’t talk about it.
“Because it feels personal. It shakes something deeper than your bank balance. So here I am, NOT staying silent.
“Fraud can happen to anyone. Even me. Even you.”
Scots lose £861,000 to scams
Scots have lost at least £861,000 to cyber criminals in the past year, amid a tenfold surge in online scams, new figures from the national consumer advice service reveal.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs consumeradvice.scot, said reports of digital cons have rocketed from only 94 in 2021/22 to 1,119 in 2024/25 – a rise of 1,090 per cent.
The true scale of this ‘scamdemic’ is likely worse than indicated, as the figures do not account for unreported cases or those directly reported to police.
The charity is urging the public to remain vigilant as online fraudsters grow in sophistication and exploit digital platforms at an unprecedented scale.
Social media scams soared by 847%t, from 19 to 180, underscoring the vulnerability of users on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Email-based scams also rose sharply, climbing from 24 to 88 over the same period, while SMS scams plummeted by 75% – down from 102 in 2021/22 to just 25 this year, as criminals switch tactics.
Phone scams, meanwhile, have remained steady, with 200 reported in 2021/22 and 202 this year.
The financial impact of scams reported to Advice Direct Scotland reached £861,384 over the past 12 months, with £338,758 lost in the past six months alone.
Cases included romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, fake deals sent through phishing emails, and false adverts on social media that pressured victims into handing over money, bank details or personal information.
Consumers should always be wary of unexpected contacts, high-pressure tactics and promises of unrealistically good returns
A professional-looking website or social media post does not guarantee something is legitimate.
Many people feel too scared or embarrassed to ask for help, but support is available.
Free, impartial advice is available via consumeradvice.scot by calling 0808 164 6000 or using web chat and email at www.consumeradvice.scot.
Suspected scams can also be reported through the ScamWatch Quick Reporting Tool at www.scamwatch.scot.
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