AS scams continue to con residents across Dumfries and Galloway, one South Scotland MSP has pledged to mark the new year in Parliament with a renewed focus on the kinds of scams that are blighting their constituents.
Carol Mochan’s call comes after police officers in have warned residents to be vigilant about the risk of scammers impersonating family members and friends, in many cases requesting money from them. Advice Direct Scotland have warned that the increasing use of artificial intelligence is making it harder to detect and catch scammers that can operate from all over the world.
It was estimated by UK Finance in 2022 that 18 per cent of fraud cases begin with telecommunications, with £177.6 million lost across Britain to impersonation scams.
Ms Mochan said: “The reports that I receive from constituents across the region about various kinds of scams shock me regularly. The untold damage these criminals can do in such a short space of time is incalculable.
“That there seems to be an entire industry devoted to conning decent people out of their hard-earned cash and savings deserves much more attention in the Scottish Parliament.
“As we begin the new parliamentary year, I will be raising the need for action on scammers, and I encourage any affected constituents to raise any issues they have faced with my team.
“In the meantime I would encourage everyone to remain vigilant in the face of potential scams, particularly those purporting to be from family and friends, and consider carefully who they reveal personal information to.”
