A VULNERABLE Mid Devon couple get to keep their life savings, thanks to Trading Standards and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

A couple in their mid-80s were in the midst of a timeshare-related scam, until Devon and Somerset Trading Standards helped to convinced them they were being conned.

The two had a timeshare in a boat, but due to their age, they wanted to sell. Timeshare resellers often pay fees, and fraudsters obtained the couple's details and sent them repeated requests for money.

Then, a company offered to help them get their money back, but not before they had a payday, too.

Two previous bank accounts were closed, allowing them to be targeted again and again. Until a RBS investigator was alerted to the fraud by several overly expensive direct debits.

Once trading standards were involved, it helped the couple find a legitimate buyer for their share through the Buy With Confidence scheme, and they managed to determine which of their payments had been scams.

As the couple had previously lost £30,000 to other types of fraud, the team at trading standards helped them to recognise scams and how to avoid them in the future.

Michael King, from the Royal Bank of Scotland's investment fraud team, was recognised by trading standards and was offered a Chartered Trading Standards Institute Hero award.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: "The couple were sceptical they were being scammed and our officers convinced them they were slowly and surely giving away everything they had worked for to criminals.

"As in this case, many victims don’t even realise they are being scammed until the criminals have bled them dry.

"A different approach was taken and the bank asked for our help and together we made sure the message got through.

"This couple had been targeted repeatedly over the years and thankfully we were able to stop them losing their life savings."

Councillor David Hall, the Deputy Leader for Somerset County Council, with responsibility for trading standards, said: "This one case has help lift the lid on many others.

“With this information hopefully we will be able to protect even more elderly people from becoming targeted and being the victims of crime.

"Scams can come in all shapes and sizes, so never give money or financial details to anyone you’re not certain of and never to anyone who calls out of the blue. Most scams work by casting a wide net and contacting hundreds of people in the hope that a few will pay out. Remember the old saying, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

"We will continue to do all we can to protect our residents through the Buy With Confidence scheme."