Fraudsters steal almost £1m from Scots in just one year amid 'Scamdemic'

Daily Record

2 days ago

Online fraudsters apply more sophisticated techniques and exploit the growth of digital platforms to dupe victims.
Scots have lost nearly £1m to cyber criminals in the last 12 months as experts warn of an emerging "scamdemic".
Figures from Advice Direct Scotland said scams have surged tenfold from only 94 in 2021/22 to 1,119 this year - an astonishing rise of 1,090 per cent. The national consumer advice service says the scale of the problem is likely worse than indicated as the figures don't account for unreported cases or those directly reported to police.
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The charity is now urging the public to remain vigilant as online fraudsters grow in sophistication and exploit digital platforms at an unprecedented scale.
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Advice Direct Scotland says crooks have been using social media to target individuals, with scams soaring by 847 per cent in the last year - 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 per cent – down from 102 in 2021/22 to just 25 this year, as criminals switch tactics.
Phone scams, meanwhile, remained steady, with 200 reported in 2021/22 and 202 this year.
The financial impact of such cons 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.
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It comes after the Record reported on the devastating case of a grandad losing £250,000 to ruthless crooks posing as staff at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Raymond Lumsden, 71, put aside the cash for his family's inheritance but was left penniless after the cruel con in January.
The retired businessman, from Edinburgh, fell victim to the scam by approving the transfer of cash to the criminals' account after he responded to a Facebook advert claiming to offer high returns on savings.
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Hazel Knowles, senior project lead at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'Unfortunately, we know that Scots have lost more than £860,000 to online scams in the past year, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
'This is a hugely underreported issue. Many victims are too embarrassed to speak out or do not even realise they have been targeted until it is too late.
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'Our latest figures show a clear shift in tactics. Cybercriminals are moving away from basic text scams and using more sophisticated methods across email, social media and interactive platforms that mimic legitimate services with worrying accuracy.
'While SMS scams are in sharp decline, phone scams remain surprisingly resilient. It shows that some old threats persist even as technology evolves.
'It is important to remember there is no shame in being scammed, and anyone who is worried or needs help can contact our specialist advisers for free, impartial and practical advice.
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'We are here to help people stay one step ahead of scammers and protect the digital spaces we all rely on.'
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The charity has urged consumers to be wary of unexpected contacts, high-pressure tactics and promises of unrealistically good returns.
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A professional-looking website or social media post does not guarantee something is legitimate.
It warned that previously, one of the main signs of a digital scam was poor spelling or grammar.
But now, criminals can use artificial intelligence tools to generate more convincing messages and even create fake celebrity endorsements that appear authentic.
Suspected scams can also be reported through the ScamWatch Quick Reporting Tool at www.scamwatch.scot.