AN international police investigation is under way after thousands of people across the North-East had money taken from their bank accounts.

Fraud squad officers believe conmen have already netted more than £2m, and thousands more could have lost money without realising.

The first anyone knows is when the rogues write to inform their victims of the cash withdrawals.

Police and trading standards chiefs across the country have been alerted to the scam, which they say was caused by a mail order company selling on mailing lists which inadvertently contained customers' bank details.

The scam originates from Florida in the US, with the thieves operating under the names of Ultimate Freedom, Exclusive Travel Offers and Corn Husker.

So far, the scam has come to light in County Durham and Wearside, but police believe people throughout the region have been conned.

Shirley Birkbeck, of Barnard Castle, in County Durham, lost £100 and was forced to change her bank account details.

Pensioner Ann Henery, 63, from Sunderland, first became aware of the scam after receiving a letter from Exclusive Travel - a firm claiming it offered members discounted holidays around the world.

Her surprise turned to shock days later when a bank statement revealed the company had already taken £72 from her account for the membership.

She said: "I was shocked and very frightened."

Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have given out details bank details to a mail order firm to check their accounts.

An international police investigation is under way, but inquiries are being hampered by the reluctance of banks and credit card firms to divulge details of private transactions.

A spokesman from the Guernsey fraud squad, in the Channel Islands, said: "We can confirm that a police investigation is being undertaken and banks are reinbursing all complainants' money lost to this sales scam."

A spokesman for Lloyds Bank said: "We are aware of the situation, and we do take fraud of any nature very seriously."