Latest news with #graveRobbers
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Shadow World: The Grave Robbers, a new BBC Radio 4 podcast launches original investigation of gangs faking wills to steal inheritance
A new BBC Radio 4 podcast, Shadow World: The Grave Robbers, reveals the untold story of criminal gangs stealing houses from people who die without a recent will. Award-winning investigative reporter Sue Mitchell (Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion, Million Dollar Lover) reveals how a gang operating in the UK is stealing houses from people who die without a recent will. Over five episodes, Sue reveals a network of companies that connect the gang members and finds evidence linked to illegal drugs, money laundering and the sale of UK work visas. The series hears from victims of the gang, confronts its leaders and exposes the shortfalls of a creaking system that leaves many others at risk. Sisters discover they are due to inherit a significant sum from their estranged Aunt and probate is stopped in its tracks... In late 2023, sisters Lisa and Nicole found out they were due to inherit a significant sum from their estranged late Aunt Christine. Heir-identifying, Anglia Research Services, contacted the sisters to inform them their aunt had died, left no will and as her closest surviving relatives they were in line to inherit everything she owned. In return for a portion of the inheritance, companies like Anglia Research apply for a grant of probate – that is, the legal right to deal with the dead person's estate and arrange for any inheritance tax to be paid. The sisters reveal to Sue their initial surprise at learning they were to receive a life changing inheritance was followed by an even bigger shock. A Hungarian man by the name of Tamas Szvercsok had contacted the probate service, and produced a will describing him as Christine's 'dear friend'. It named him sole executor and beneficiary of her entire estate. The possibility that Mr Szvercsok was genuine, was not initially dismissed out of hand. Matt Boardman, former policeman, and current employee of Anglia Research Services, told the podcast: 'It happens, sometimes cases slip through the net and a will is unearthed'. However, there were clear signs that all was not what it seemed. Christine's neighbour and friend, Sue, said she had never mentioned a Hungarian friend at any point in the years they had known each other. The will was dated 2016 - Christine was housebound and disabled by this time, and receiving practically no visitors. Her home address was also misspelled on the will, and even though it was dated 2016, the address given for Mr Szvercsok was a block of flats that was not built until 2022. Matt Boardman contacted Mr Szvercsok, who replied by email: 'I never heard of any family. I'm the sole executor of her will.' Despite presenting what they thought was a strong case to police and the probate service, Lisa and Nicole say they were informed that there would be no investigation into Mr Szvercsok's will. The process has now been frozen. Mr Szvercsok has not been able to take possession of Mrs Christine Harverson's estate, but Lisa and Nicole have been told that they would have to bring a civil case if they wanted to prove that the will was a fake. That would cost tens of thousands of pounds which they do not have. Sue Mitchell says: 'We have this saying in the UK, safe as houses… once you have a house, no one can steal it from you… This is the story of criminals who steal other peoples' inheritance, to steal the homes of the dead, robbing them and their rightful heir. I'm going to explain how and you won't believe how simple it is. You won't believe it's going on right now and no one is stopping these thieves.' Shadow World: The Grave Robbers begins on BBC Sounds on Saturday 5 July. The first episode will be available on BBC Radio 4 from Wednesday 9 July at 9.30am New episodes will be released weekly. Listen to Shadow World: The Grave Robbers on BBC Sounds Presenter: Sue Mitchell Produced by: Sue Mitchell and Winifred Robinson Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams The Grave Robbers is a BBC Studios Audio production for BBC Radio 4. LS Follow for more
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
46 Extremely Rare, Mind-Blowing Photos From The 19th And 18th Century That Show Just How Wildly Different Things Used To Be
1800s 25¢ bill: 1880s ID card: 18th century diving suit: 1800s shoes for crushing chestnuts: 18th century fire alarm that you'd need to hit with a hammer to alert the village of a fire: 18th century machine that let researchers read up to eight open books at once: 1840s medical inhaler that administered anesthesia: 18th century condom: 1890s brass knuckle pistol: 1850s women's self defense glove: 1800s hidden staircase in a Victorian home: 18th century sword-shaped Chinese coins: 1830s clock: 1700s oil lamp: 1880s Victorian dollhouse: 1740 wheelchair for Holy Roman Empress Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel: 1820 coffin collar that prevented grave robbers from stealing corpses: 18th century Scottish mortsafe to stop graverobbers: Related: People In HR Revealed Truly Unhinged Reasons Employees Got Fired, And My Jaw Is On The Floor 1890 steamer trunk that converts into a dresser: 1880s penny farthing bike: 1850 $10 bill: 22.1890s manners book: 18th century gaming device that came before the pinball machine: mid-1700s well that was glassed over and eventually became part of a home's kitchen: Related: 50 People Who Woke Up One Morning Over The Past Month And Accidentally Destroyed Their Entire Lives 18th century French chair for reading books: 1750s wall latern: 18th century mansion's dog grave: 18th century case of amputation instruments: 18th century lock that requires four keys to open: 18th century palace hall: 1700s graffiti on a cathedral: 18th century building in Norland, Norway: 1700s lighthouse Fresnel lens: 1800s sundial alarm clock: 1800s pepperbox pistol: 19th Century guide on how much you could sue for loosing a limb: 1830 cost of a semester at Harvard: 18th century uranium glass china that glows under UV light: 1800s cemetery that was preserved in the basement of a building: 1840 Japanese shadow puppet guide: 1880 tap and die set (aka toolkit): 1821 recipe for Ginger Ale: 1800s corner chair: 1800s telephone: 19th century Victorian home library: finally, this 19th century guide on who to avoid in the marriage market: Also in Internet Finds: The History We're Taught Is Wildly Sanitized, So Here 28 Disturbing Historical Events Everyone Should Be Aware Of Also in Internet Finds: 18 People Who Took A Picture Of Something That — Oops — Is Super Dangerous Also in Internet Finds: 13 Tweets From Women This Week That Made Me Laugh So Hard I Might Need Medical Attention
