AN elderly couple say they feel shattered and ashamed after losing nearly £20,000 in a telephone scam.

The grandparents, aged 83 and 70, have lost £19,000 over the past five months to fraudsters claiming to be from the Ministry of Justice.

The couple, from Carrville, near Durham City, have asked to remain anonymous.

The husband said: “We used our savings and current accounts at first, then cashed in a Scottish Widows endowment to pay these people.

“We feel so ashamed. I have been conned by these very plausible people. My wife believes there is good in everyone because she is an honest person and I believed her.

“I feel shattered. We have lost all of this money. It has caused my wife and myself a great deal of distress.”

The thieves claim to be able to recover bank charges, credit card charges and cash linked to mobile phone contracts.

Victims are asked to send money through U-Cash vouchers or Western Union moneygrams to an address in New Delhi, India.

Detective Sergeant Cliff Down, of Seaham CID, warned people to be on their guard. He said: “This is definitely a scam and it has been operating in other parts of the country.

“It appears the fraudsters are now targeting people in County Durham. It has left this elderly couple seriously out of pocket and extremely distressed. Some of the calls were quite intimidating.

“We must advise in the strongest possible terms never to hand over any money in this way as a result of phone calls and never pass on your bank details over the phone.”

Fraudsters are targeting people in the Darlington area in a separate scam.

Residents have received letters inviting them to share in millions said to be lying unclaimed in a Hong Kong bank account. The letters, claiming to be from Hung Pang, a business relations manager for a Hong Kong-based finance company, offer half of a £6.7m investment left untouched after the death in mainland China of a US man.

Several people have handed copies of the letter to police, who are advising people not to respond to it.

Anyone with concerns is advised to call Durham Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800- 555-111.