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- A UK man has been sentenced for operating a global phishing platform that resulted in over £100 million in fraud losses
- Zak Coyne laundered $230,000 in cryptocurrency earnings made through the scam
- Coyne was arrested on 14 April 2024 at Manchester Airport attempting to flee the country
A UK man has been jailed for creating and running LabHost, a subscription-based phishing platform that enabled fraudsters worldwide to steal sensitive information, resulting in losses exceeding £100 million ($132 million). Zak Coyne, 24, from Huddersfield, received $230,000 in cryptocurrency for his services, which he laundered through various accounts. Authorities dismantled the operation in 2024 and are pursuing further legal actions to prevent future offenses, with Coyne now jailed for eight years.
LabHost Was Criminal Enterprise
Zak Coyne, 24, received $230,000 in cryptocurrency for designing and administering LabHost, a platform that provided fraudsters with tools to impersonate trusted institutions and steal sensitive information from unsuspecting victims. He laundered these earnings by moving funds between different cryptocurrency accounts, transferring them to personal bank accounts, and converting them into cash through a third party.
LabHost operated as a “one-stop shop for phishing,” offering subscribers access to fake web pages resembling those of major banks, government agencies, and commercial entities. These pages were used to deceive victims into providing personal and financial information. The platform facilitated authorized push payment (APP) fraud, enabling criminals to persuade victims to transfer money to accounts under the fraudsters’ control.
LabHost’s services were used by thousands of criminals worldwide, resulting in at least one million victims across 91 countries, with UK losses exceeding £32 million ($42 million).
Airport Arrest
The investigation into LabHost involved extensive international cooperation. Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) played a significant role in disrupting the platform. Edvardas Šileris, Head of EC3, commented, “The dismantling of LabHost is a clear example of the impact that cross-border cooperation has on combatting cybercrime.” The operation highlights the critical importance of international collaboration in confronting the evolving threat posed by cybercriminals.
Coyne was arrested on 14 April 2024 at Manchester Airport, and his devices were seized. The investigation uncovered a large amount of digital evidence, including website server data obtained via liaison with international partners, which the prosecution used to build a strong case and successfully link Coyne to the offenses.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police and international law enforcement partners, dismantled LabHost in April 2024. Thomas Short, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, stated, “This was a sophisticated worldwide criminal enterprise which enabled others to perpetrate fraud on a massive scale, resulting in losses totalling more than £100 million.”
Following his eight-year sentence, the CPS is pursuing confiscation proceedings against Coyne to recover his ill-gotten gains and prevent him from financially benefiting from his criminality. Additionally, due to the severity of the offenses, an application for a Serious Crime Prevention Order will be made to ensure Coyne does not engage in similar offending upon release.
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