Another case with a similar value involved a drug dealer who set up a web design company as a front for an international Bitcoin scam. The accused, who is currently serving five years in prison for drug-related crimes, scammed a £250,000 mortgage while converting and transferring cash and Bitcoin to a value of £789,000 over the course of six years.
KMPG said the latest fraud findings follow the continued warning from Police Scotland’s Take Five To Stop Fraud campaign to be careful of scammers using sophisticated methods to target vulnerable people and companies.
Annette Barker, head of forensic at the accountancy giant, said: “As Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease we are seeing the reopening of the criminal justice system and in turn, an increase in cases of fraud coming before the courts.
Cyber security experts have taken down more scams in the last 12 months than the previous three years combined - as coronavirus and NHS-themed cons rocketed during the pandemic.
Experts oversaw a 15-fold rise in the removal of online campaigns compared to 2019, according to the National Cyber Security Centre.
There was a jump in the number of phishing attacks using NHS branding to dupe victims, with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout used as a lure via email and text message to harvest people s personal information for fraud.
Some 43 fake NHS Covid-19 apps hosted outside of official app stores were also pulled.
Dr Ian Levy, Technical Director of the National Cyber Security Centre, revealed the cons
Scam warning for holidaymakers and festival fans over fake bookings and dodgy tickets
Essential tips on how to avoid online scammers as restrictions ease.
15:45, 3 MAY 2021
UK Finance is urging people to check carefully before parting with their cash (Image: Getty Images)
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You are being warned of a scam if planning a holiday or festival this year. (Canva) If you are planning on going on holiday or attending a festival this summer as restrictions end, you need to be on the lookout for fraudsters, a trade association has warned. People are being warned of criminals who are poised to bombard unsuspecting victims with ticketing, travel and health insurance scams as lockdown restrictions ease. With many people looking to book holidays and tickets to concerts or festivals, fraudsters are advertising bogus tickets at low prices as well as for events that have already sold out, UK Finance said.
You are being warned of a scam if planning a holiday or festival this year timesandstar.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesandstar.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.