Scots are losing almost £2,000 a day to online scams, new figures reveal.

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs consumeradvice.scot, has warned shoppers to be careful as the Christmas shopping begins and as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach.

Between April and November this year, 934 Scots sought help from the charity after losing more than £495,111 to online fraud.

This is an average loss of £530 per person.

This adds to losses exceeding £617,367 among 1,550 people in 2023, bringing the total to £1.1 million, or £1,972 per day.

The actual scale of the problem is likely to be worse, as these figures do not account for unreported cases or those directly reported to the police.

Experts have warned that fraudsters are increasingly using new tactics to target struggling Scots seeking bargains amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Previously, one of the main signs of a digital scam was poor spelling or grammar.

But now, scammers can use AI platforms like ChatGPT, which employ natural language processing to create human-like dialogue, making their messages more believable.

They can also use AI image generators to create fake celebrity endorsements that appear real.

Hazel Knowles, senior project lead for Advice Direct Scotland, said: "At this time of year, we’re all shopping online more than ever, and with the cost-of-living crisis straining household budgets, it’s understandable that many people will be looking for a Black Friday bargain.

"Unfortunately, we’re aware that Scots have already lost at least £1.1 million in online scams since last year.

"AI is making emails and images more convincing, so it’s now harder to spot scams.

"Shoppers need to check who they’re buying from to ensure their purchases are safe and worth the money.

"The key advice is to take your time and check before buying.

"Always ensure you're on an official website, as links may lead to fake sites."