Cops battling to stem rising tide of web fraud and cyber sex crime
CYBER crime has soared in Scotland since the start of the pandemic, with online fraud more than doubling in three years.
The estimated number of internet swindles has risen from 3,450 in the year 2019-20 to 8,010 in 2021-22, according to the Scottish Police Authority’s annual report released on Thursday. Overall cyber crime in Scotland is estimated to have gone from 7,710 to 14,280 in the same period.
The figures include hikes in violent cyber crime – including online domestic abuse and stalking – and a soaring number of threats and extortion offences. Sexual cyber crime is also up.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘These criminals frequently target the most vulnerable in our society and despicably scam them out of money that they need to live on. The SNP cannot continue to fail to act on this.
‘The Scottish Conservatives have launched a new policy that would create a specific offence of cyber fraud to protect the most vulnerable.’
He attacked the Scottish Government for allowing prisoners to keep mobile phones, which he said were ‘the very devices they often carry out the crimes on’.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said more staff were tackling the issue. He added:
‘Cyber crime has continued to increase significantly and we must all be more vigilant of the threats which exist online.
‘Across Scotland, use of the internet and technology has accelerated during the pandemic, giving cyber criminals new opportunities to exploit our communities and cause harm.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said it was ‘committed to ensuring Scotland leads the way in improving cyber resilience and security’ and continued to work closely with Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre.