Scots are more afraid of bank fraud and identity theft than they are of violent crime.
Figures released on Tuesday reveal that 56% of people are scared someone will use their credit or bank details to steal from them. And 51% are worried that their identity will be stolen by fraudsters.
That compares to just under a third of Scots who say they are afraid of being mugged or robbed, while even less have given time to thoughts of becoming a gang violence victim.
More than 16,000 adults were surveyed for the official Scottish Crime and Justice 2008-09 study. They were asked about both their experiences and their perceptions of crime.
The results indicate that Scots are far more likely to worry about crime than they are to become victims.
Fifteen times more people worry about being mugged than are actually targeted, while there are four times as many "white collar crime" worriers than there are victims.
The study was released as the Government released the National Statistics publication estimating that around one in five Scots had been the victim of at least one crime.
It suggests a million crimes were committed across the country but only 38% were reported.
Speaking on patrol with police in Wester Hailes today, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "We are beginning to turn the corner in our battle against crime and antisocial behaviour in Scotland.
"Recorded crime is at its lowest level in nearly 30 years, we have a record number of police officers patrolling our streets, and it is encouraging to see that majority of people in Scotland now feel safer in their communities than in previous years.
"We are working harder than ever before, tackling the booze and blade culture that still blights far too many communities, taking on the dealers who peddle misery and despair on the streets, and bringing down the Mr Bigs who pull the strings of serious and organised crime."
However, opposition MSPs hit out at the SNPs claims of progress.
Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said comparisons with previous surveys showed overall crime is up by 4%.
He said: "This survey looks beyond recorded crime figures into the level of crime which is unreported, and shows the SNP is failing on crime and disorder."
"Kenny MacAskill is failing to persuade the law-abiding hard-working majority that he knows how to tackle crime and the opposition to his dangerous plans to scrap prison sentences for offenders, including people guilty of assault and knife crimes, shows he's completely out of touch with communities across Scotland."
Meanwhile, Tory Community Safety spokesman John Lamont MSP said: "94% of adults described crime as a problem and yet we know only two in five crimes are ever reported to the police. Are we really at such a desperate stage where almost a quarter of the respondents feel that violent crime is ‘just something that happens’?
"45% of people not reporting a crime did so because they felt the police could not have done anything about it, or would not have been interested or bothered. This is indicative of a desperate lack of confidence in our justice system.
He added: “There is little in these findings to be encouraged about – the picture is nothing like as rosy as Alex Salmond’s Scottish Government would have us believe.”
Last updated: 27 October 2009, 15:53 GMT
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