A PENSIONER who fell victim to scammers is turning the tables on criminals by working with the authorities to help bring them to justice.

Sigrid Hambly, 79, from Horsforth, is one of an army of OAPs who have been recruited by trading standards and the police to fight back against the fraudsters.

They are passing on information to help catch the conmen - many of them international - who are trying to dupe vulnerable people out of their savings.

Earlier this year evidence gathered by the 250-strong group - known as Mail Marshals - led to hundreds of arrests in the U.S. and Canada.

Sigrid, who was targeted by postal scammers for eight years, has made it her personal mission to ensure other people don't get taken in. And now her dedication to protecting others has been recognised with a trading standards Hero Award.

Sigrid had previously fallen victim to a prize draw scam after going through financial difficulties. But since becoming a Mail Marshall earlier this year she has passed on scores of bogus letters to the authorities and also helps to arrange fraud prevention workshops in her community.

She said: "When I realised I had been scammed, I hit a real low. To be able to fight back and help others is very rewarding. I am only a little person doing a little thing, but I hope it will help others."

After receiving the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Hero Award, from her MP Stuart Andrew she said: "I've been absolutely gobsmacked and still am."

"The ceremony felt like a big family, with everyone congratulating each other. I felt welcomed and at home. I've never been recognised for something I've done in my life, so I was honoured"

"I'm just a person who wanted to help"

Chief Executive at CTSI, Leon Livermore, said: "Age is just a number. Sigrid refused to be a just another victim, choosing to take a stand for others in her community, and we’re honoured to present her with a Hero Award."

Sigrid was nominated by Yvette Sheldon, Project Officer for West Yorkshire Trading Standards, who said: "Sigrid’s passion to protect other members of her community is simply inspiring. She is an excellent champion of the work trading standards does and an asset to the community."

Stuart Andrew said: "I was delighted to be invited to present Sigrid with her award and I am very proud of the hard work and dedicated she has put in to protecting vulnerable people in my constituency from falling victim to the type of scam she was unfortunate enough to experience herself.

"I am very pleased that she has received the CTSI Hero Award in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to protect vulnerable people in her community from mail scams and I know my constituents are very well protected with Sigrid at the helm."