A NEWPORT couple who were conned out of £12,000 in a £21 million pyramid scam have revealed how “convincing and professional” the women behind the plot seemed.

The husband and wife pyramid victims, from Malpas, were due to receive their first pay-out from the Give and Take scheme when the meeting was interrupted after the scammers were busted.

Six women were convicted of carrying out the pyramid scheme and fleecing at least 10,000 victims, including a number from Gwent. Three more women admitted their parts in the scheme this week at Bristol Crown Court.

Victims were promised payouts of £24,000 if they joined the pyramid scheme by paying £3,000 and urging others to join.

The Malpas man, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Argus the women running the committee led members to believe they had jobs like barristers and teachers.

“These people were really clever. They led us to believe they were all genuine, all quality people.”

The pair donated four lots of £3,000 to enter four different pyramid charts, with the promise of an eventual payment of four lots of £24,000, totalling £96,000.

“I was sort of a respected member in the community, so those below us trusted us and I trusted those above.

“Soon we got nearer and nearer to the payout, and then we were the very last ones and it was our turn.

“I dropped off my wife at a house in Caerleon to get the payout and I waited outside as only women were allowed in. Suddenly she came running out the building, crying her eyes out and said the organiser had received a mystery phone call from another committee member saying something had gone wrong.

“Another meeting had been busted by an undercover reporter and the scheme was ending.”

The anonymous victim , who was asked but declined to give evidence at the trial of 69-year-old committee member Laura Fox who helped run the scheme, said those scammed were not stupid.

He said: “I’m semi-retired, I wouldn’t be throwing money away. I worked too long and too hard just to throw it away.”

In 2012, Sally Phillips, 34, of Hengrove, Jane Smith, 50, of Bishopsworth, both Bristol, and Rita Lomas, 49, of Whitchurch, Somerset, admitted promoting the scheme.

Phillips received a three-month suspended prison sentence, Smith a four-month suspended sentence and Lomas a four-and-a-half month suspended sentence.

Following a five-month trial in 2012, chairman Laura Fox, 69, treasurer Jennifer Smith-Hayes, 69, and venue organiser Carol Chalmers, were convicted of operating and promoting the scheme.

Fox, of East Harptree, Smith-Hayes of Bishopsworth and Chalmers, of Weston-super-Mare, were sentenced to nine months imprisonment. They have now served their sentences.

On Wednesday, charts co-ordinator Mary Nash, 65, committee secretary Susan Crane, 68, and games co-ordinator Hazel Cameron, 54, pleaded guilty to charges of operating and promoting the scheme. They will be sentenced in October.