Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Lothian Jeremy Balfour is backing his party’s call for a new offence to be created that would cut down on cyber fraud.
To coincide with the UK Conservative Party conference, the Scottish Conservatives unveiled plans that would increase punishments for online scammers.
Currently there is no specific legislation to target scammers who use online or electronic means to scam people out of their money.
Under the Scottish Conservative plans, there will be a presumption that all those convicted of this new crime in the Lothians will go to prison, while the maximum punishments would also increase. Currently, many offenders end up spending less than a year in jail.
Also included in the plans are a guarantee that anybody convicted under the new law would be denied access to a mobile phone in prison.
Jeremy Balfour is urging the SNP to get behind the policy, given the soaring rates of cyber crime in recent years, as well as the current pressures on household budgets caused by the cost-of-living crisis.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour said: “Getting scammed out of your own money is a hugely traumatic experience for any individual in the Lothians.
“In recent years those who carry out fraud have increasingly turned to using online or electronic methods, leading to cyber-crime rates soaring.
“I’m proud to be backing Scottish Conservative plans to clamp down strongly on those who commit cyber fraud offences in the Lothians.
“Currently there is no specific legislation to target these scammers and it is time we sent out the strongest possible message to deter them.
“Given the cost-of-living crisis and rising bills, the last thing people in the Lothian Region need is a scammer targeting their money, knowing that there is every chance he will not be punished for it.
“We would ensure that these criminals are sent to prison. While there, they would have no access to mobile phones – as we’ve seen many serious crimes conducted from cells due to this SNP policy.
“I urge the SNP Justice Secretary to back this policy and update legislation, so that our police have the resources to drive down cyber-crime rates and give people reassurance that tough action will be taken against scammers in the Lothians.”
