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Alex Wood
Ex-Fraudster and Global Motivational Speaker

Alex is one of the most highly sought-after speakers in global finance. However, he was also responsible for some of the most high-profile and high-harm financial offences in modern criminal history.

His early career was in the music industry. Aged just 13 he began to tour the world as a violin virtuoso and performed under the greatest conductors of the modern era. He was awarded prestigious scholarships to attend the Purcell School, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, won an array of major prizes and regularly performed for the Royal family.

Aged 24 his career was abruptly halted by the onset of Repetitive Strain Injury in his right hand and faced with mounting debts and no source of income, his criminal career began. His life spiralled out of control, culminating in several years spent in prison for a number of dishonesty offences - everything from impersonating the 13th Duke of Marlborough to committing multi-million pound cyber-crime.

Since his release from prison in early 2022 Alex has turned his life around and become a leading figure in the counter-fraud profession.

Alex made his speaking debut in February 2023 (where he delivered a Keynote Speech at Counter Fraud 2023, organised by the Cabinet Office, the Public Sector Fraud Authority and GovNet). He has since delivered over a hundred speeches across the UK and throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Alex is a regular guest on mainstream television and radio, having recently contributed to shows on BBC Radio 4 (including "Five Ways They Get You" with Shari Vahl and "File on 4") and Talk TV.

In addition to his speaking engagements, Alex consults for the world’s largest financial institutions (including Tier 1 banks, insurance providers, law firms and risk experts) so as to enable a deep understanding of the ‘Fraud Mindset’ as well as sophisticated ‘Social Engineering’ techniques and the threat of emerging technology (such as AI and Quantum Computing).

Alex regularly speaks for and advises a number of Government departments including the Home Office, the NHS, the FCA and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Alex sits on the Board of Advisors of FFAC C.I.C. which works with banks, lawyers, law enforcement and Government to educate children about the risks of involvement in mule activity.

While in prison, Alex was signed by the world-leading literary agent Andrew Lownie. He is represented in the UK / Europe by Matthew Fisher at SCAMP Speakers and in the USA by A-Speakers.

In March 2025 Alex was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.