Computer expert who helped crooks steal £100m is caught at airport

A COMPUTER expert who put his talents to criminal use helped to create a 'one-stop shop' to allow cyber fraud-sters to dupe innocent victims out of £100m.

- By ANDREW BARDSLEY

Zak Coyne, 24, was the co-creator of LabHost, a site which charged criminals a subscription fee to allow them to create realistic looking copies of websites for well known brands such as Amazon and Netflix, as well as 26 UK banks.

Customers would unwittingly have their confidential data stolen, believing they were accessing legitimate accounts on banking, commercial or government websites. LabHost allowed criminals to commit fraud on a 'massive scale, prosecutors said.

At least one million people originating from 91 countries across the world fell victim to the phishing scam. Confidential details would either be used for fraud or sold on to other criminals. The actual financial loss to victims in the UK was £100m, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Sentencing, Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth said: "It was one of the most professional and sophisticated websites in the world for committing online fraud."

She told Coyne: "You also enjoyed what you were doing and also by being immersed in the criminal underworld operating online."