Cyber Crime

1 Download resource

CyberByte – September 2025

This month’s CyberByte is focused on a type of online Blackmail, referred to as sextortion, which is when a cybercriminal threatens to reveal or create sensitive or embarrassing information about the victim unless the victim meets their demands. This places the victim under immediate anxiety and pressure to the point they believe the threat and engage with the cybercriminal. This often leads to the victim being manipulated into doing things they wouldn’t ordinarily do and in turn feeling isolated and too embarrassed to seek support.

We strongly encourage the reporting of any incident as this will help support the victim, so they are not facing the ordeal alone and to know there is a network around them to help them.

Whilst being online is generally a positive experience, unfortunately, we cannot forget we can be targeted.

Related resources

TTX Gym

Running a cyber security exercise is an immersive, effective way to evaluate and practise response skills. Yet, designing and facilitating exercises is complex. TTX Gym provides a custom-designed tool to deliver consistent, effective, and insightful exercising experiences.

ScotlandIS Clusters

Clusters promote economic growth through leveraging the innovation and business potential of a region; generating new employment opportunities, new products and services, new companies, new R&D activities and new patents. Find out more information about the clusters in Scotland.

Scams and Frauds

Information on the different types of fraud and advice on how you can avoid becoming a victim.

Public Sector Cyber Incident Co-ordination Procedure

Outlines the procedures for notifying and coordinating responses to notifiable cyber incidents affecting Scotland’s public services. It defines the agreed-upon cyber incident notification process adopted by the Scottish public sector since 2018.

Pruchase fraud

An easy-read guide to purchase fraud.

CiSP – The Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership

The Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership (CiSP) is a joint industry and government initiative set up to exchange cyber threat information in real time, in a secure, confidential and dynamic environment, increasing situational awareness and reducing the impact on UK […]