Myanmar's scam empire gets worse, not better
For Samuel, a sports teacher in Sierra Leone, a Facebook message promising a similar job in Thailand at ten times his salary was irresistible. Yet his dream curdled when he landed in Bangkok. Spirited across the border into Myanmar, he was tortured and coerced into the online-scam industry, and confined for ten months in a vast compound secured by barbed wire, high walls and armed guards. His job was to pose as an affluent Singaporean woman to defraud victims on eBay.
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Unbuyable Bill may result in just 25 charges a year
Ms Regan, a former SNP justice minister who defected to Alba in 2023, wants Scotland to bring in what is known as the Nordic Model - a system which criminalises the buying of sex in any setting and de-criminalises people selling sex. Since 2007 the buying of sex in a public place has been a criminal offence in Scotland. Formally called The Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill Ms Regan's legislation would also quash historic convictions for prostitution and provide sex workers a legal right to financial support to leave prostitution. READ MORE: SNP complain to Facebook over Reform 'race-baiting' advert targeting Sarwar Ministers still seeking 'urgent clarity' on £85m international student tax What is the Nordic Model? The proposals to criminalise 'buyers' of sex Ash Regan claims MSPs are buying sex as she introduces new bill The Alba MSP - who has the backing of Alba leader and former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill - argues prostitution is a form of male violence against women and that sex work exploits vulnerable women who are forced into it as a result of poverty. She argues her bill is a bold and long-overdue step towards tackling the issue but has said she fears it could be voted down by male MSPs in Holyrood who use prostitutes. It has already prompted significant debate with sex workers launching a campaign against it arguing it would make them more vulnerable to attack. The financial memorandum published with the bill estimated that the annual recurring cost associated with measures in the bill, taking into account extra work for the police, the prosecution service and the Scottish Prison Service as well as financial support for people leaving prostitution would be between £1.4 million and £2.2 million. This was based on estimates of the number of new charges brought to court of between 25 and 75 a year. "The member is basing total cost estimates on 45, 90 and 135 additional recorded crimes and 25, 50 and 75 additional charges brought to court," the financial memorandum stated. Lynsey Walton, chief executive of National Ugly Mugs, the UK's national sex worker safety charity, said: 'Ash Regan is trying to have it both ways. "In public she claims that the Nordic Model is needed to stop a national epidemic of abuse, but privately she admits that changing the law would lead to only a handful of cases a year," she said. 'Sex worker groups, alongside Non Governmental Organisations like Amnesty and the World Health Organisation oppose the new law on the grounds that it will make life more difficult and dangerous for sex workers, while costing taxpayers millions of pounds a year to enforce." She added: "If we truly want to address systemic violence against sex workers, we need full decriminalisation, not another expensive, performative policy that protects no one. "An official government review of similar legislation in Northern Ireland – the only nation in the UK to enact the Nordic Model – found that there was 'no evidence that the offence of purchasing sexual services has produced a downward pressure on the demand for, or supply of, sexual services'. It also found that 'the legislation has contributed to a climate whereby sex workers feel further marginalised and stigmatised'. A YouGov poll of 1,088 Scottish adults, carried out last year, showed that Scots firmly oppose the Nordic Model, with 47% saying it should be legal for a person to pay someone to have sex with them, versus 32% who think it should not be legal. The poll showed that 69% of Scots say MSPs should focus on protecting the health and safety of sex workers, and providing support to people who want to leave the industry, compared to just 14% who support new laws to prevent people exchanging sexual services for money. A spokesperson for Ash Regan said: 'Police Scotland does not routinely record the cost for any specific operation as officers are deployed to where local policing plans necessitate their services are most required. 'If the Bill becomes law then it will be an operational matter for Police Scotland to enforce the new law and Ash has full confidence in their ability to do so." She added: "Previous Members Bills have provided no financial support for Officer Training whereas Ash Regan's Bill has prudently set out costs to support training requirements of existing police officers. The manner in which the figures have been presented is either a wilful or ignorant representation of how training needs are facilitated in an organisation."
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Heartbroken grandad loses £250k in RBS scam as fraudsters pose as staff
A Scots grandfather was left in tears after cruel scammers posing as Royal Bank of Scotland staff stole £250k he'd saved for his family— now he's fighting to get it back. A grandad has told how ruthless scammers posing as Royal Bank of Scotland staff stole £250k put aside for his family's inheritance. Raymond Lumsden, 71, was devastated after falling victim to a sophisticated online scam. While he described the 'horrible' fraudsters as the principal villains, he has also hit out at RBS staff for failing to spot red flags before approving the transfer of money to the criminals' account. The retired businessman from Edinburgh hoped to grow his savings for to leave to his loved ones, but instead says the fraud has left him traumatised and thousands of pounds out of pocket. Raymond's nightmare began in January when he responded to a Facebook advert claiming to offer high returns on savings through Royal Bank of Scotland International (RBSI). After filling in his details, he was contacted by someone claiming to be a bank employee and shown professional-looking documents, email addresses and even LinkedIn profiles that matched the names and photos of legitimate staff. Raymond's nightmare began in January when he responded to a Facebook advert claiming to offer high returns on international bond investments through Royal Bank of Scotland International (RBSI). He told the Record: 'I thought the offer looked brilliant. I definitely didn't think it was a scam. There was never a doubt in my mind I was dealing with a legitimate Royal Bank employee.' Raymond then visited his local RBS branch in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, where staff approved his investment transaction with no questions asked - despite Raymond presenting emails that said he needed to send the money to a compliance solicitor's account at RBSI - rather than directly to the bank itself. The fraudsters even gave Raymond access to a fake RBSI online portal where he believed he could track his investment. But weeks later, his world came crashing down when RBS's fraud team phoned him to say they suspected he had been scammed. He continued: 'I didn't believe them at first You could have knocked me over with a feather.' The pensioner is now angry that his bank failed to spot the warning signs, especially when he later discovered that his money had been transferred to a Halifax account - not an RBS one as he had believed. He added: 'No one in the branch questioned if it might be a scam. They didn't do a single check." RBS, which is owned by NatWest Group, has now refunded Raymond £207,000 - but refused to reimburse the remaining £43,000. Raymond has since enlisted the help of National Fraud Helpline solicitors to recover the outstanding cash, who have launched a case with the Financial Ombudsman. Lawyer Fiona Bresnen said: 'Raymond had checked with staff if this was the correct procedure and was reassured that it was fine. He even showed bank staff the email exchanges which mentioned the compliance solicitor but was told that it was okay to transfer the money. This should have raised immediate red flags." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Raymond believes that if even the most basic checks had been carried out, he would not have lost any cash at all. He added: 'I've been with RBS for over 40 years. I trusted them." Now he just wants to recover what's left of the money he had hoped would go to his grandchildren. He said: "They've taken the kids' money and it would mean the world to get the rest of it back." A Royal Bank of Scotland spokesperson said: 'While we can't comment on a case that is at the Ombudsman, if a customer is dissatisfied with their bank's decision, we would always advise them to speak to the Ombudsman themselves who will support with the claim including providing specialised knowledge for free." Impersonation scams take place scammers pretend to be a person whose organisation you trust, in order to trick you in to giving them money or sensitive information. Scammers can use artificial intelligence (AI) to make their scams more realistic. They can make fake videos of celebrities, phone calls from people you know or websites and emails that look official. Be extra cautions of any unexpected contact.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers gobsmacked after bizarre Land Rover smash leaves one motor mounted on top of another
Luckily, the vehicles were all recovered and no one was hurt PARKS & WRECK CREATION Shoppers gobsmacked after bizarre Land Rover smash leaves one motor mounted on top of another Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOU can't park there madam! Supermarket shoppers are gobsmacked after a car park prang left one motor mounted on top of another. The smash is said to have happened when a woman in a Land Rover reversed into another car, flipping it over and hitting a silver VW Beetle. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Supermarket shoppers are gobsmacked after a car park prang left one motor mounted on top of another Credit: Facebook 4 The smash is said to have happened when a woman in a Land Rover reversed into another car Credit: Facebook Others pointed out it looked like a modern sculpture. Former Army aircraft technician David Bowden posted pictures on social media, adding: 'It's all happening in Falmouth Sainsbury's. 'It is amazing, like a bit of modern art, or a collapsed game of Jenga.' Mark Carveth joked: 'The winner of the 2025 Turner prize is a sculpture from Falmouth.' READ MORE ON MOTOR INCIDENTS TOTAL RECALL Car brand to recall 273k motors due to issue that 'increases risk of crash' Dawn Chittock said: 'Would make a great Specsavers advert.' The incident happened at a Sainsbury's supermarket in Falmouth, Cornwall, on Saturday. A tannoy went out in the store asking for the driver of the blue car to attend the car park - where they were in for a shock. The vehicles were all recovered and no one was hurt. Two people were in one of the vehicles at the time of the crash, but both got out of the vehicle uninjured. Cops said the drivers swapped insurance details at the scene. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We were called to Sainsbury's, Falmouth, car park at around 1.30pm on Saturday 31 May following a report of a three vehicle collision. Horse gallops down Scots high street and crashes into car "Only one vehicle had occupants but both got out of the car uninjured. All vehicles were recovered and insurance details swapped." A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "Emergency services attended an incident in the car park of our Falmouth store on Saturday afternoon. A small section of the car park was closed for a couple of hours and we're sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused." 4 The vehicles were all recovered and no one was hurt Credit: Facebook
