The Scottish Government has been urged to take action to crack down on people who try to extort money from people over the internet.
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald has urged new Justice Secretary Michael Matheson to investigate what measures can be taken to identify and prosecute those who prey on vulnerable people both from inside the UK or abroad.
The politician has lodged a series of parliamentary questions at Holyrood after a Press and Journal video showed a north-east woman who was targeted on the internet by a man who claimed to be in Syria who asked her to send him £47,000 so he could prepare a new life for them in America.
Mr Macdonald decided to act after the woman was told by the police that asking for money was not a crime.
The MSP said: “This is a classic case of internet fraud and the idea that you just shrug your shoulders and don’t do anything about it is simply unacceptable.
“This case raises some serious concerns about who is responsible for investigating crimes like this, therefore it is essential the authorities work with justice agencies in other countries to bring people to book.”
North-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: “I think it is outrageous that there are men who are willing to prey on women in the way this man attempted to.
“I think it is important that we look at the possibility of changing legislation so that once a man has been identified as behaving in this way the full power of the law can be brought to bear to make sure that they do not do it again.”
Police in Aberdeen said they were unable to comment on the case, but said extensive advice on how to stay safe and secure online was available on the force’s website.
It offers substantial advice about so-called webcam extortion – a term given to demands being made for money or favours via a chat application and webcam.
The advice states: “If you think you are the victim of a crime, are being threatened for money or any other purpose, or someone is in immediate serious danger, contact the police.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We are committed to disrupting all types of serious organised crime.
“The unique partnership working between agencies in Scotland through the serious organised crime taskforce means we are getting ever more sophisticated at outsmarting organised criminals wherever they operate.”
Read the woman’s full story in today’s YL magazine.