New data has shown how the coronavirus crisis and subsequent lockdown have impacted crime rates.
Overall, the total number of crimes recorded by cops in Scotland in April this year was down 18% on the previous year.
Non-sexual crimes of violence were 14% lower, dropping from 740 in April 2019 to 636 this year.
The number of sexual offences recorded by Police Scotland also fell, from 1,055 to 781.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly with fewer of us traveling, motoring offences dropped by 42% from 10,597 to 6,143.
Bucking the trend was fraud, with a 38% increase in April 2020 compared to 2019, rising from 791 to 1,089.
Scotland’s national consumer advice service, consumeradvice.scot , said it has picked up a number of queries related to fraud and the coronavirus crisis in recent weeks.
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This includes cold-calls about Covid-19 funds for businesses, and scammers offering coronavirus insurance schemes and asking for bank details.
In April, Edinburgh Live reported that East Lothian Council warned of people going door-to-door pretending to be NHS workers collecting donations or offering to shop for money.
Marjorie Gibson, head of operations with the consumer advice service, said: “These figures suggest that unscrupulous fraudsters are trying to exploit a public health crisis by preying on people and businesses.
“Evidence of this disgusting behaviour has been picked up across Scotland.
“We urge everyone to be vigilant as fraudsters can sound very plausible and persuasive, and it can be easy to be taken in by them.
She said it was important for people to check emails carefully and not enter into a contract with cold-callers.
The service's advisers are able to offer consumers advice, and refer cases to council Trading Standards departments when appropriate.
