Cybercrime figures fell in Scotland over the course of the last year but have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, new annual crime statistics have shown.
An estimated 14,120 cyber-crimes were recorded by the police in Scotland in 2024-25, a fall of 2,770 crimes (or 16%) compared to the estimated volume for 2023-24 (16,890), the Recorded Crime in Scotland report has revealed.
Levels also remain significantly above the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20 (7,710 cyber-crimes), the figures released by the Scottish Government showed.
The figures, collated by Police Scotland, are also an estimate of the total volumes of cybercrimes, and cybercrime has previously been shown to be significantly underreported by victims.
The report said: “The estimates provided in this chapter are based on a review of crime records, whereby a random sample of cases was drawn across Scotland for those types of crime that could in theory involve a cyber-element. The review considered which proportion, by crime type, actually were cyber-crimes in 2024-25.
“As this analysis is based on a sample of police records (rather than all police records), it should be seen as providing a broad estimate of the volume and type of cyber-crime recorded in Scotland, rather than an exact count. Following previous reviews of crime records, we have assumed that all crimes under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (within the Damage and reckless behaviour crime group) were cyber-crimes.”
The report breaks cybercrime down into two distinct types. Cyber-dependent crimes can only be committed using computer systems, while cyber-enabled crimes are traditional crimes that are enhanced or facilitated by the use of technology, for example sexual crime or fraud.
Data on cyber fraud shows that there were an estimated 3,450 such crimes reported in 2019-20, compared to 9,890 in 2023-24 and 7,550 in 2024-25. However, the split between non-cyber fraud and cyber fraud is now roughly 50-50, when in previous years traditional fraud was more dominant, the figures show, revealing an increasing tendency of criminals to use online as the method for targeting victims.
Overall, the report showed that cybercrimes accounted for an estimate of at least 5% of total recorded crime in 2024-25, including 27% of sexual crimes, 7% of crimes of dishonesty and 3% of non-sexual crimes of violence.
Jude McCorry, chief executive of Cyber and Fraud – Scotland, said: “The annual reported figures for cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime are still very high, but we also must remember that these are “reported” figures. A lot of these crimes go unreported to policing for various reasons.
“Ransomware, for example, often goes unreported because many firms are discouraged by the perceived reputational risk and onerous regulatory regimes. It is often quicker and easier, sadly, to pay the cybercriminals, allowing them to move on to their next target, rather to engage with police or risk being hit by a fine for breaching data protection regulations.
She added: “For cyber-enabled fraud which may affect individuals the reasons for not reporting are similar but the shame is the biggest factor.
“We always encourage all victims to report because Police Scotland are best placed to provide this victim support, we then know the “true” figures of crime and are also able to gather and share intelligence that could help prevent others becoming victims.”
Victims of cybercrime can call Police Scotland on 101. Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland supports organisations and individuals can get in touch with the Cyber and Fraud Hub.
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