A builder has been left in "crippling debt" and "suffering from panic attacks" after being conned out of £95,000 by a social media scam.

Colin Theobald fell foul to the fraudsters after answering an Instagram advert for crypto currency in June this year.

The scammers sent Colin a link to a convincing website under the name of a legitimate company through which he was able to log in to track his so-called investments.

A woman called ‘Chris’ called the builder from Norway to talk him through the process and he believed everything seemed well and he was making good money.A woman named "Chris" called the builder from Norway to talk him through the process and he believed everything seemed well and he was making good money. (Image: Richardson Hartley Law) Unfortunately, Colin invested £45,000 of his late father’s inheritance and went on to borrow a further £50,000 in total.

"I’m struggling with it all emotionally," said the 61-year-old.

"Towards the end of each month I know I have to pay off the loans and it plays on mind. I have panic attacks.

"It was also so convincing. I was in a bad place at the time as I’d suffered from pneumonia for months was really ill and also got sepsis. Everything was on top of me."

He is now paying more than a £1,100 a month to service these debts.

Colin suffered significantly with his health at the same time as the scam.Colin suffered significantly with his health at the same time as the scam. (Image: Richardson Hartley Law) At one point his investment portal said that he had made £220,000 but when he tried to start withdrawing the money he was told he needed to pay an additional £15,000 to pass anti-money laundering checks.

More excuses came from the scammers as to why they needed additional money to withdraw the funds which is why he started the borrowing.

Since then, Colin has enlisted the help of law firm Richardson Hartley Law to help reclaim his money using the companies website www.nationalfraudhelpline.co.uk.

The firm's service not only helps scam victims recover their money, but also aims to produce anti-fraud technology, campaign for change and educate the public on how to avoid been scammed.

Colin's bank, Revolut, has initially rejected his claim to be recompensed saying they gave him sufficient scam warnings.

The law firm has now advised him that they will raise a claim on his behalf through the Financial Ombudsman Service.