Online scammers are not afraid to prey on the vulnerable. This is a sad fact of life these days, as one in five adults using the internet will experience a type of cybercrime or cyber fraud, a new report says.

According to the latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, a lot of victims were left unaffected by cyber fraud, but it did prompt them to change their online behavior, which is a correct response. However, is there a need for a crime to happen before practicing online safety?

Most internet users report their devices being infected by a virus. Others said their accounts had been accessed by other people, and there are several that had their bank accounts or card details stolen. Many had been victims of phishing and scam emails as well.

But according to the SCJS, many victims choose not to report the incident to authorities, at least in the case of those who got their devices infected or were victims of scam phone calls. People often report to the police if a crime involves their bank accounts, which are oftentimes stolen or misused online.

Knowing the kinds of cybercrimes is important, as it gives us a picture of what malicious hackers can potentially do, especially these days that the whole world is struggling.

Over the last decade, it has been found that cyber fraud has victimized more people, and many people feel unsafe on the internet now than before.

At the height of the coronavirus crisis, one in five victims of a financial scam were victimized by pension fraudsters despite the constant warning of cybersecurity experts.

Data released by Canada Life, a financial services firm, found that in the U.K. alone, 5.2 million people had fallen victim to, or know of someone who had been victimized by financial fraud since the start of the pandemic.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has provided a fertile opportunity for 'low-lives' to prey on not only the vulnerable but also people who are worried and anxious about both their health and their wealth," said Andrew Tully, technical director at Canada Life.

The most common financial scams were related to banking, comprising 60% of victims, followed by victims of insurance scams at 35%.

Lockdowns have been relaxed in some areas of the globe, but it doesn't mean the threat of cyber fraud is over. We must still be wary and remain alert, and should a cybercrime happen, report it to the authorities at all costs.