Latest news with #HazelKnowles
STV News
4 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Scots warned of ‘scamdemic' as £860,000 lost to cyber criminals in 12 months
Scots have lost more than £860,000 to cyber criminals in the last year as digital scams have increased by more than 1,000% in recent years, according to figures from the national consumer advice service. In what is being dubbed a 'scamdemic' by charity Advice Direct Scotland, the number of such crimes rose from 94 in 2021-22 to 1,119 in 2024-25 – a 1,090% increase. The charity, which runs the website offering advice on avoiding scams, says the reality of the so-called scamdemic is likely to be far worse as the figures do not include cases which go unreported or are reported directly to police. It urged the public to remain vigilant as scammers' methods become more sophisticated. Over the same 2021-22 to 2024-25 period, it said social media scams rose 847%, or from 19 to 180. Email-based scams rose from 24 to 88, while SMS scams dropped by 75%, down from 102 to 25. Phone scams remained at a steady level, with 200 in 2021/22 and 202 this year. The financial impact of scams reported to Advice Direct Scotland reached £861,384 over the past 12 months, with £338,758 lost in the last six months alone. The more common forms of fraud are romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, fake deals sent through phishing emails, and false adverts on social media. The charity says consumers should be wary of high-pressure tactics and unrealistic promises. Scams were previously more easily identified, with poor spelling or grammar being an obvious sign. Criminals are now using AI to create more convincing messages, and according to the charity, some are even creating fake celebrity endorsements to make their schemes seem more authentic. New rules under the Online Safety Act came into force in March which require online platforms to do more to stop user-generated fraud. They must now carry out risk assessments and have effective complaints procedures in place, while large platforms must provide a dedicated way for users to report scams. 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 under-reported issue. Many victims are too embarrassed to speak out or do not even realise they have been targeted until it is too late. 'Our latest figures show a clear shift in tactics. Cyber criminals 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. 'We are here to help people stay one step ahead of scammers and protect the digital spaces we all rely on.' Advice is available on or by calling 0808 164 6000. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Fraudsters steal almost £1m from Scots in just one year amid 'Scamdemic'
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. The charity is now urging the public to remain vigilant as online fraudsters grow in sophistication and exploit digital platforms at an unprecedented scale. 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. 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. 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. '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. 'We are here to help people stay one step ahead of scammers and protect the digital spaces we all rely on.' 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. The charity has urged consumers to be wary of unexpected contacts, high-pressure tactics and promises of unrealistically good returns. 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
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scots children as young as 11 being sold vapes while in school uniform
Shocking new figures from a leading advice charity reveal 112 out of 150 complaints made last year were about underage vape sales. Scots children as young as 11 are being sold vapes while in their school uniform, a probe by a consumer watchdog has found. Shocking new figures released by a leading advice charity revealed a staggering 112 out of 150 complaints made last year were about underage vape sales, with some rogue traders repeatedly being caught red-handed. From June 1 it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use or 'disposable' vapes. But Advice Direct Scotland warned there may be a struggle to uphold the ban if enforcement can't stop shops from flogging vapes to kids. Senior project lead Hazel Knowles said: 'Over the past year, we've received a significant number of complaints about underage vape sales including reports involving children as young as 11. 'In some cases, these sales were made to children in school uniforms, and some traders were reported multiple times. 'This highlights ongoing challenges with enforcement that need to be addressed. If enforcement mechanisms are already under pressure, there is a risk that they may struggle to keep pace with the demands of new regulations. 'This could be an issue with the new legislation. 'The upcoming legislation on single-use vapes is a welcome step towards protecting both public health and the environment. 'However, its success will depend heavily on how effectively it can be enforced.' Shopkeepers who flout rules on vape can be fined or banned from selling following trading standards investigations by local authorities. In 2023, an investigation found that one in five shops were willing to sell vapes to under 18s. Local authority Trading Standards carried out test purchase operations with volunteers under the legal age and found that 63 of the 312 premises tested across Scotland sold vapes to an underage volunteer. In May last year, Adnan Abbas, was banned by Inverness Sheriff Court from selling vapes for 15 months through two of his retail shops, following an investigation by a team at Highland Council. In December 2023, Awder Far, Director of Seven Days Peterhead Ltd, was fined £400 after being caught selling a vape to an underage test purchase volunteer during a compliance check operated by Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards. A well as being harmful to young people, single-use vapes - also known as disposable vapes - pose a growing environmental and safety challenge. The products, which are typically used once and then thrown away, often end up as litter on our streets or in general waste bins. They can leak harmful chemicals into the environment, polluting soil, rivers, and streams and threaten local wildlife as well as posing a fire risk. Even when they're binned, they often go to landfill or are incinerated - wasting valuable materials like lithium and plastic that could otherwise be recovered and reused. A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes is due to come into force in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - marking a major step towards reducing environmental harm and promoting safer, more sustainable alternatives. Knowles, of Advice Direct, added: 'It's important that we learn from current gaps in oversight and ensure that the necessary resources, training and support are in place to make the new rules work in practice. 'This is about making sure that well-intentioned legislation is matched by practical, on-the-ground capability. 'We want to see a system that not only sets clear rules but also has the tools to uphold them consistently and fairly. 'The goal is to protect young people and reduce environmental harm and that's something we all support. 'But to achieve it, enforcement must be part of the conversation from the start.' Advice Direct offer free, impartial advice by calling 0808 164 6000 or using web chat and email at 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'.
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Daily Record
Sextortion gangs using AI porn fakes to target rising number of Scots victims
Sextortion gangs are using AI porn fakes to target an increasing number of Scots victims, a leading charity warned yesterday. Advice Direct Scotland has warned of the growing threat of online scammers using artificial intelligence to make naked photos of potential targets as figures revealed thousands falling victim to sex scams across the country. The charity has urged Scots to speak out and seek help if they are blackmailed by criminals who threaten to release fake indecent images - known as 'deepfakes' - unless they pay money or carry out demands. The alert comes after it emerged that more than 2,000 Scots were targeted in extortion scams in the last five years - including a shocking 1,200 children. Hazel Knowles, senior project lead for Advice Direct Scotland, which runs and said AI exploitation by criminals was expected to rise as the technology becomes increasingly advanced and more accessible. She said: 'When dealing with any scams, staying calm and composed is crucial. 'It is very important to seek help and avoid panic even though receiving such emails can feel invasive and alarming. 'Help is available and you're not alone. Experts advise not to pay any ransom as criminals often persist with threats even after payment or may target people again, adding them to a list of previous payers. 'Paying does not guarantee that the images won't be shared.' Scammers have previously used photos that victims have shared of themselves, often with former partners or abusers who used false identities to gain their trust. The crimes see victims - predominantly young men - being enticed to send explicit photos or videos to someone who has befriended them online. In March, it was reported that an estimated 2,080 crimes of threats and extortion were committed online in 2023-24 - an increase of 14% from the estimated 1,830 recorded in the previous year. The Police Scotland figure was a six-fold increase from the estimated 290 recorded in 2019-20, with the force stating that most of the crimes recorded relate to sextortion. However, data from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said just 10 charges of threats and extortion were reported to it in 2023/24 where the charge contained reference to disclosure of (or threatening) to disclose intimate images. During the same year, just one person was convicted while another case was said to be ongoing. But concerns have grown in recent month over AI being used to 'nudify' and manipulate photos taken from social media. A senior UK police chief has warned that paedophiles, scammers, hackers and criminals are increasingly exploiting AI to target victims in new and harmful ways. Alex Murray, the national police lead for AI, said police had to 'move fast' to keep on top of the threat as more and more criminals gain access to the tool, saying: 'It can happen on an international and serious organised crime scale, and it can happen in someone's bedroom.' Advice Direct is offering advice to Scots in a bid to reduce the number of people targeted in this way. Knowles added: 'Scams can lead to both emotional and financial turmoil, often leaving individuals feeling extremely vulnerable, totally betrayed and alone. 'However, it's crucial to remember that being scammed is nothing to be ashamed of. If you're feeling concerned or in need of assistance, our specialist advisers are here to offer free, unbiased, and practical support.' Tips to beat the scammers include making sure that social media privacy settings are secure so that shared information is limited to trusted individuals and avoiding disclosing private details or images, particularly to people you've only interacted with online. Strong, unique passwords should be used and two-step verifications enabled on all accounts. People should be wary about clicking on links in emails or messages that request personal information, like passwords or sensitive data. Free, impartial advice is available by calling 0808 164 6000 or using web chat and email at . Suspected scams can also be reported through the ScamWatch Quick Reporting Tool at .
