MORE than £7 million has been stolen from Scottish businesses and individuals in less than a year through cyber crime, Police Scotland revealed yesterday.

The force said officers are investigating 19 incidents that have taken place since July, in which people have been conned through emails, phone calls or text messages in scams known as phishing, vishing and smishing.

In each case, criminals have used genuine-looking phone numbers or email addresses and claimed to work for a bank or company that needs to verify the victim’s bank account details or personal information. The accounts are then emptied.

Police are warning the public to be alert and remember that banks do not contact customers asking for personal information or to carry out a transaction.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Robertson, of Police Scotland’s economic crime and financial investigation unit, said: “Banks will not contact businesses or individuals asking for personal information or ask you to carry out a transaction.

“If someone starts asking for these details, end the call and contact your bank.

“If you decide to ring back to verify the call, it is advisable to do so on a different phone line like another landline or mobile.

“If you are still unsure, consider visiting your local branch instead of speaking to someone over the phone.”

A hospice was among a host of businesses hit by a banking scam in the Scottish Highlands last year.

Premiership football team Hamilton Academical was defrauded of almost £1 million in another high-profile case.

Police said organised criminal gangs operating in the UK, Europe and further afield are behind the scams.

Robertson added: “People make sure that their house and cars are locked and secure, and the same policy should be adopted online.

“Simple things like making sure you use strong passwords for personal and business accounts and being wary when accessing public or open Wi-Fi can help keep people safe.”