Vic woman, 78, tasered in home invasion

A Melbourne great-grandmother thought she was going to die when she was tasered unconscious, tied up and threatened with a knife by a couple who tricked their way into her home.

Speaking through a translator on Tuesday, the frail 78-year-old said she let them in after they spoke to her in Greek and the woman said she was a council worker wanting to discuss a complaint about the condition of her Alphington home.

Once inside on Saturday they demanded money.

When she failed to comply, the man dragged her into her bedroom by her hair and clothes, threw her onto the floor and used a device believed to be a taser to attack her at least three times.

"I passed out. I couldn't quite understand what was happening," said the woman, who did not want to be named.

"When I came to, I could hear him saying: `I am going to kill you with this'."

She did not have any money in the house and thought she would be killed.

"I said: `If you kill me you will take my soul, but you will not take my money. I don't have any money."

However, this did not stop the attack.

The man then found a knife she had been using to cut fruit and threatened her with that.

Before the pair left empty handed, they ransacked the house got some tape and tied up her legs and gagged her.

The woman has not been able to stop shaking since the attack and needs medication.

Detective Senior Constable Daniel Chapman said it was a cowardly attack.

"An elderly lady at home by herself, she clearly stated there was nothing on the premises and they continued to assault her, using a weapon as well," he said.

"Police are just outraged at this."

With CCTV footage from nearby businesses, police have released an image of the couple they are looking for.

The pair both have a southern European appearance.

The man appears to be between 35 and 40-years-old and the woman is believed to be aged between 25 and 30.