Cyber crooks plunder £860k from Scots as scamdemic hits

SCOTS have lost more than £860,000 to cyber criminals in the last year as digital scams have increased by more than 1,000%, according to the national consumer advice service.

- By Ryan McDougall

In what is being dubbed a “scamdemic” by charity Advice Direct Scotland, crimes rose from 94 in 2021/22 to 1,119 in 2024/25, a 1,090% increase.

The charity, which runs the consumeradvice.scot website, says the reality 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.