Scottish charity launched to support victims of cyber crime and fraud

A new national charity has been established to help those who have been affected by cyber or fraud crime.

The hub has been formed by the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland (CFCS) in response to a swift rise in calls from concerned members of the public to its helpline.

Last year, calls to the helpline doubled, with six in 10 coming from members of the public seeking advice following a suspected cyber or fraud crime.  

“The Cyber and Fraud Hub will meet a vital need for support for individuals who find themselves in the daunting situation of being a victim of a cyber or fraud crime, the impact of which can be immense, mentally and financially,” said Jude McCorry, chief executive of the CFCS.

The announcement comes after data shared by the Scottish Government showed that cyber crime in Scotland has increased by almost 120 per cent in the last four years.

Police Scotland assistant chief constable Andy Freeburn said: “The hub will be an invaluable resource and complement the support available from Police Scotland. It will deliver first-class education and partnership programmes to help communities and individuals build resilience against cyber crime and fraud and offer specialised support to those who have become a victim of cyber crime.” 

The new initiative will offer tailored assistance through reporting and legal guidance, victim assistance, and recovering funds as well as enhance the public’s understanding of cyber and fraud crime.  

The CFCS claims the hub is the first charity in Scotland to offer such a level of bespoke victim and advice support. However, McCorry said that “others, including senior figures in financial services and government”, must make it a priority too.  

“We’ve built strong relationships with our colleagues at Police Scotland and the banking sector to support our business community to be more resilient and we wanted to extend this support to the growing number of individuals who find themselves personally compromised as a result of this growing threat,” she said.

“Members of the public require a different type of support to get them through a cyber attack, where they are supported as victims of a crime as well as going through formal criminal proceedings. The Cyber and Fraud Hub team have the knowledge, skills and expertise to allow them to listen and provide reassurance as well as the tools to get people back on their feet.”  

In addition to McCorry, other senior CFCS figures are taking part in the initiative, including head of finance Angie Lees, head of ethical hacking Declan Doyle, head of strategy John Callagy, head of cyber and fraud Alex Dowall and chair Paul Atkinson.