Many Scots are cavalier about cybercrime despite increased awareness of the risks following high profile frauds and security scares, a survey has found.
People admitted data breaches at Carphone Warehouse, Talk Talk, Sony and Ashley Madison's website had made them more aware of privacy issues and the risk of fraud.
However more than two thirds (67 per cent) said they knew they could do more to stay safe online, and more than one in ten victims of cybercrime (14 per cent) said they had not bothered to report it.
One in four victims of a cybercrime in Scotland said they thought they had been specifically targeted by fraudsters and nearly a third (32 per cent) had been left feeling more vulnerable as a result.
Despite their concerns, 18 per cent of Scots questioned said they weren't careful about using strong passwords and 13 per cent had social media accounts that were public, risking revealing personal information. Nearly on in ten (nine per cent) did not use security software on devices they use to go online.
The results are revealed by a specially commissioned poll for Get Safe Online Week which starts today [Monday]. It also showed that a third of those who had been victims of cybercrime in Scotland had lost money as a result, with a third of those losing in excess of £200, while the average loss was £134.
A third of victims of cybercrime were scammed as a result of 'phishing' emails, using fake approaches to attempt to gain personal details, and 'vishing' phone calls, where fraudsters phone up using data gleaned about an individual to manipulate them into sharing more confidential information.
Overall, the UK public lost £286 million to cybercrimes in the last 12 months, according to Get Safe Online, a joint public private internet safety initiative. This figure is from separate research carried out by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.However, as a significant number of internet-enabled fraud cases still go unreported the true economic cost to the UK is likely to be significantly higher.
Tony Neate, Chief Executive of Get Safe Online, said: “As we spend more of our lives online, our digital footprints inevitably get bigger. Sadly, that means opportunist fraudsters will use information about us to make their scams more believable and difficult to detect.
"Being online offers so many great opportunities for everyone and we would never discourage anyone from enjoying and benefitting from them. However, we do urge people to take precautions so they don’t make themselves vulnerable to underhanded scammers."
The campaign advises internet users adopt simple steps to protect themselves, including using a password on any connected device, including phones, using the most secure settings on social media accounts and never discussing confidential details when contacted by phone.
Acting Superintendent, Matt Bradford, Head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police said: “Fraudsters are cashing-in online and are using the internet to commit crimes which they would never have been able to execute in previous decades.
Last week, the National Crime Agency (NCA) warned of a virus being used by hackers to harvest online banking details and gain access to accounts across the country. At least one arrest has already been made, but thousands of UK computers were thought to have been affected by malware with predicted losses across the UK estimated to run to £20 million.
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