Islanders lose almost £1m to scammers

People on the Western Isles lost £900,000 in 70 frauds last year, an average loss of £12,800 per victim, Police Scotland have said in a warning about rising cyber scams.

‘The location of the Western Isles may present limited opportunities for scams and doorstep crime to be committed in person by fraudsters attempting to take money from people,’ said Trading Standards officer Jay Moran.

‘In the case of internet, mail and phone scams, these are very real problems for people no matter where they live.’

‘There are so many types of scams – some scammers use several different scams with an individual to get what they want,’ added Western Isles Council. ‘Cyber-fraud is the most changing form of financial crime affecting Scotland.’

Stornoway police constable Fiona Macleod said: ‘Anyone can fall victim to this type of crime, not just the elderly and the vulnerable – even if we think we’re scam aware, all it takes is for us to be caught off guard in the moment by a skilled manipulator. The impact of scams and fraud can be financially and emotionally devastating for the victim, with many suffering isolation and hardship as a result – some even become more susceptible to further exploitation.’

Norah MacPhee, of the Western Isles Citizen’s Advice Service, added: ‘Underreporting and stigma continue to be barriers in scam/fraud, with many feeling too ashamed and embarrassed to tell someone what has happened.’

Marjorie Gibson, head of operations with Advice Direct Scotland, said: ‘Cybercrime is a growing concern and it’s always important to check emails or online communications very carefully and always be wary of anyone asking for personal financial information.’

Information on keeping safe can be found online at cas.org. uk (Citizens Advice Scotland), scotland.police.uk/keep-safe, advicedirect.scot, and tsscot. co.uk (Trading Standards Scotland).