IT IS truly sickening that con artists are targeting the elderly and vulnerable.

The fact they are using so-called “suckers lists” to repeatedly scam victims is even worse.

Even the name jars.

These are not suckers. They are people who have worked hard all their lives, saved their cash for retirement, to pay for a care home, or a nest egg for their offspring.

Raised at a time when you could leave your door unlocked and everyone knew their neighbour, their trusting nature is being exploited in the most abhorrent way.

Not only does it often leave them thousands of pounds worse off, for many who are living alone it makes them suspicious to even open the door to a stranger in fear they will be conned again.

The scammers do not care about the distress and sadness they leave behind in their trail; they are simply cowards who target the vulnerable for their own gain.

Trading Standards and the police must work together to monitor and try to stop the distribution of these lists, so anyone on them is warned and given advice on not becoming a victim of the scammers.

They need to catch those responsible and deal with them to the full extent of the law.