A gang of fraudsters who targeted Britons in a £10million lottery email scam were arrested in Spain yesterday.
Two victims, pensioners Edward and Margaret Smedley from Peterlee, Co Durham, face losing their home.
The couple paid out £9,500 after receiving an email telling them to send the money in order to get £500,000 lotto winnings.
Madrid police and detectives from America's FBI arrested 87 Nigerians believed to be behind the scam.
Police think they have conned 1,500 people in Europe, America and Canada in the past five years.
The tricksters sent out mass e-mails telling people they have won a lottery prize but must first send cash to receive it.
When people hand over their bank details the crooks raid their accounts - and the lottery money never arrives.
Police in County Durham say six other people in the North-East have lost a total of £50,000 this year alone.
Detective Inspector Geoff Smith said: "These arrests should put a stop to these activities for a considerable time.
"We urge people never to hand over bank details to people they don't know."
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