Mastermind of 'one-stop shop' fraud website Zak Coyne jailed
The ringleader of a website that promised to provide a "one-stop shop for phishing" has been jailed for eight and a half years.Zak Coyne, 24, headed up a platform called LabHost which defrauded at least one million victims across the world - including 70,000 in the UK - of more than £100m by tricking them into using payment services and shopping sites that looked real.More than 2,000 scammers signed up to the subscription-based site, many without technical skills, and used it to bombard victims with text messages which took them through to the payment sites.Coyne, of Huddersfield, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting three fraud-related offences last year.
'For spammers by spammers'
His site, LabHost, was taken down in April 2024 following a combined law enforcement operation between the Metropolitan Police and global agencies. Between August 2021 and October 2023, Coyne played a key role in creating, operating and administering the site.Labhost described itself as a "one-stop shop for phishing" created "for spammers by spammers".For a large monthly membership fee, the website provided its subscribers with access to phishing pages to defraud victims, which had the appearance of legitimate major banking, government and commercial websites but were fake.Using authorised push payment (APP) fraud, amateur scammers could steal identity information, including 480,000 bank and credit card numbers and 64,000 PIN codes, known in criminal slang as "fullz data".Criminals used the site to defraud at least one million victims in 91 countries, with the total losses to victims totalling £32m in the UK and an estimated £100m globally. LabHost itself made nearly £1 million ($1.25m) in profits from criminals.Some 25,000 of the UK victims were identified by police and sent text messages informing them which fake online payment services and shopping sites could have taken their money. Detectives said their personal details, found in a data dump from LabHost, were now "secured".After taking the site down, police sent a tailored video to 800 criminals who had used it, showing them the evidence they had gathered during the investigation.Last year, 24 suspects linked to the site were taken into custody, with arrests at Luton and Manchester airports. Worldwide, 70 properties were searched and one British man charged.
'Cybercrime-as-a-service'
Commander Stephen Clayman of the Metropolitan Police said the cases demonstrated the "commitment across law enforcement to identify and hold those to account who facilitate criminal enabling functions and think they can remain undetected. We will find you and take action."Craig Rice, chief executive of the Cyber Defence Alliance, said that such "cybercrime-as-a-service platforms" like this one had the ability to "enable thousands of other fraudsters to conduct online frauds that impacts bank and retail customers across the UK".Thomas Short, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, stressed that "fraud is far from a victimless crime and the harm caused by Coyne's offending are measured not just in monetary terms, but also in the distress inflicted on countless victims who fell prey to these scammers".The gang's activities were discovered in 2022 by a small team of investigators funded by UK financial bodies to infiltrate criminal networks on the dark web.This investigation is an example of a new approach involving police, the National Crime Agency and banking security experts to target criminals offering services to other criminals.
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She added: "Serial killers who leave behind diaries, notes, or cryptic messages often do so as a means of exerting control, crafting a personal narrative, or seeking attention." 'Sinster code' The chilling cache of notes, scribbles and diaries is what police say enabled them to snare the young nurse - describing the find as a "massive surprise". DI Rob Woods, who ran the search of her home when Letby was arrested for a second time, said in Cheshire Police's Operation Hummingbird documentary: 'There appeared to be, and it became clear later that it was, almost a code of coloured asterisks, and various other things that marked significant events in our investigation." 'When we went to search the address for the second occasion, that was something we knew that we were looking for because we didn't have the complete chronology. 'There were a couple of years missing, so that was a very clear item. 'We also knew that she was a copious writer of notes. We thought that perhaps having been arrested she might stop doing that. 'It turned out when we searched that second address, she had continued to write her thoughts and all sorts of processes about the investigation.' It is unclear how the asterisks fit into the theory, as the force has only publicly released a sample of pages from her diary in June 2016, and the asterisks are not included. But the diary pages were hardly mentioned in the trial itself, and neither was there any reference to suspicions of an elaborate code used anywhere. The use of initials was brought up by the prosecution, but experts believe there could be a simple explanation. Cops appear to have initially read them as 'LO', as per what was said in court, and been baffled. There appeared to be, and it became clear later that it was, almost a code of coloured asterisks, and various other things that marked significant events in our investigation. DI Rob Woods But they have since been interpreted as 'LD', meaning 'Long Day' by online sleuths, as well as references in text messages between Letby and a colleague since made public. This appears to be a colloquial abbreviation used by nurses at the hospital to signify a shift lasting 13 or 14 hours, something Letby was often doing during the period of the murders for which she was convicted. Statistical misrepresentation consultant, Professor Richard Gill told The Sun the suggestion that the nurse left a trail of cryptic clues in her diary is 'just quite simply ludicrous' and a desperate attempt by police to paint her as the classic serial killer. 'It doesn't exist, it's just bluster,' he added. But Ms Nyamwiza says: "The use of coded entries in her diaries, such as the 'LO' notation corresponding to specific dates, indicates a compartmentalisation of her actions, perhaps as a coping mechanism or an attempt to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos." Professor Gill has previously helped free multiple medical professionals wrongfully convicted of killing patients, including Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk and Italian nurse Daniela Poggiali. He is among an increasing number of supporters who believe Letby to be innocent, and has been pushing for a retrial - although many others, including the victims' families, have blasted the campaign to free her. He described the diary as coming across 'as more of a calendar than a diary', adding: 'She's not writing down thoughts every day. 10 Lucy Letby's bedroom at Westbourne Road, Chester, which was shown in court Credit: Cheshire Constabulary 10 An image released by the police shows handwritten notes found in Lucy Letby's bedroom after her first arrest in 2018 Credit: Cheshire Constabulary 10 Body camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary shows the moment of Lucy Letby's arrest Credit: PA 10 Another page also released by police shows the killer's scribbles Credit: Cheshire Constabulary 'It's just little notes of things that had happened or were going to happen, like many people do - professionals in jobs make little notes.' He said it was odd that police brought up the 'LD' initials in the documentary, released last year, despite the uncertainty apparently having been cleared up. 'Even at the time, people knew that LD meant Long Day, it was explained,' Prof Gill continued. 'The story that there was some kind of sinister code and that it was planned is totally ludicrous, and it tells us something about the intelligence of Cheshire Constabulary. 'They wanted to convict a killer nurse, they wanted that very strongly, very early on, because they were brought into the conspiracy by the doctors. 'The doctors went to police in March or April 2017 and we know that they told them bogus lies, they told them lies about the expected number of deaths on that unit. 'They roped the police into their own fantasy, and the police went all out to prove it. They opened an investigation and found nothing, and this was one of the nothings of which they found.' 'I believe she's innocent' Text exchanges since made public between Letby and a colleague show the latter voicing some surprise that her friend was down for four LDs in a week. Prof Gill said: 'I mean, it's a lot. You're supposed to only have one LD a week. 'It's 14 hours working strictly without a break. You're not supposed to have four LDs in a week. 'But you can see how stretched that unit was, that it was necessary, and it shows us how enthusiastic Lucy was to work overtime and get experience. 'She's an enthusiastic young nurse who wants to learn as much as she can, so she wants as much experience as she can, and she wants money. 'She's saving to buy a house. The long day paid more than the short day, Christ. 'Those long days happened to coincide with the deaths of twins. So what? 'It shows that she's often there when babies die because she worked such long hours, because the unit was short-staffed.' Prof Gill went on to say: 'There's no evidence anyone saw her kill anyone, except Jayaram said he almost saw her, but he didn't see her. 'And now there's doubts about whether he was even there or not for Baby K. But nobody ever saw her doing anything whatsoever.' Prof Gill was referring to Dr Ravi Jayaram, who testified that the nurse was seen standing over Baby K's cot as the infant's condition deteriorated. Taking the stand, the doctor said Letby failed to call for help as the newborn's condition declined, insisting the nurse had virtually been caught "red-handed". But last month, a bombshell memo appeared to cast doubt on Dr Jayaram's claims. Prior to the start of the police investigation, Dr Jayaram wrote in an email to colleagues: "At time of deterioration ... Staff nurse Letby at incubator and called Dr Jayaram to inform of low saturations." This suggests Letby had informed superiors of the child's condition. Prof Gill - who vehemently believes Letby is innocent - said the only possible indication he can see from the evidence put forward in court of wrongdoing is that insulin may have been injected into some of the babies that came to harm. I believe she's completely innocent. I've said that for a long time, but for a long time I was among the very few who dared to say it. Prof Richard Gill 'Maybe someone was trying to harm two babies,' he said, however, he added that medical experts have since clarified that newborn premature babies can have completely natural Hyperglycemia. Also known as high blood sugar, hyperglycemia is a condition where the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is abnormally high. It's a common complication of diabetes, but can also occur in non-diabetics, particularly during illness or stress. Prof Gill went on to say: 'I think the things that convinced people of Lucy's guilt were insulin, the rota, and the Post-It notes.' One such argument put forward by the prosecution suggested that because Letby was on shift when babies came to harm or died, statistically, she must have been guilty. Prof Gill believes that this can be cleared up by the short staffing and the fact that Letby was so keen to take on extra shifts. In terms of the notes, he said it's not entirely clear what the 'I killed them' scrawling actually says. 'It's not absolutely clear what the phrase is,' he explained. 'That's not the whole sentence, there's a bit above, which you can't read.' Prof Gill said he's unsure why a handwriting specialist wasn't brought in by the defence team to decipher the full sentence and potentially quash it as evidence. Other notes said 'please help me' and 'I can't do it any more', while another said: 'I want someone to help me but they can't, so what's the point in asking. Hate my life.' Letby herself claimed she wrote the notes at a time when she feared her practices may have been at fault for babies collapsing. She said she felt 'isolated' from colleagues after being taken off the neonatal unit and put on clerical duties. In excerpts from police interviews after her arrest, shown to the jury, Letby said: 'I just wrote it because everything had got on top of me. 'It was when I'd not long found out I'd been removed from the unit and they were telling me my practice might be wrong, that I needed to read all my competences - my practice might not have been good enough. 'I was blaming myself but not because I'd done something (but) because of the way people were making me feel.' Letby's defence barrister Ben Myers KC told the court: 'You have seen the notes. They are full of distress, self-recrimination and anguish. 'They certainly do show a very distressed woman. Someone in a terrible state of anguish.' However, the prosecution said the notes were confessions of guilt and not the 'anguished outpourings of a woman in fear and despair'. Prof Gill added: 'I understand why the jury came to guilty verdicts given what they were told. 'The police and CPS were convinced Letby was an evil killer and they were forced to fill the trial with junk.' He said he is pleased to see something of a shift in the narrative surrounding Letby by many. 'I think the shift is clear,' he explained. 'Of those who have an interest in the case many are at least coming round to the idea of them being unsafe convictions, if not agreeing she is innocent. 'People are prepared to say she's innocent. I believe she's completely innocent. I've said that for a long time, but for a long time I was among the very few who dared to say it.' The charges Letby was convicted on in full Child A, allegation of murder. The Crown said Letby injected air intravenously into the bloodstream of the baby boy. COUNT 1 GUILTY. Child B, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby attempted to murder the baby girl, the twin sister of Child A, by injecting air into her bloodstream. COUNT 2 GUILTY. Child C, allegation of murder. Prosecutors said Letby forced air down a feeding tube and into the stomach of the baby boy. COUNT 3 GUILTY. Child D, allegation of murder. The Crown said air was injected intravenously into the baby girl. COUNT 4 GUILTY. Child E, allegation of murder. The Crown said Letby murdered the twin baby boy with an injection of air into the bloodstream and also deliberately caused bleeding to the infant. COUNT 5 GUILTY. Child F, allegation of attempted murder. Letby was said by prosecutors to have poisoned the twin brother of Child E with insulin. COUNT 6 GUILTY. Child G, three allegations of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby targeted the baby girl by overfeeding her with milk and pushing air down her feeding tube. COUNT 7 GUILTY, COUNT 8 GUILTY, COUNT 9 NOT GUILTY. Child H, two allegations of attempted murder. Prosecutors said Letby sabotaged the care of the baby girl in some way which led to two profound oxygen desaturations. COUNT 10 NOT GUILTY, COUNT 11 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. Child I, allegation of murder. The prosecution said Letby killed the baby girl at the fourth attempt and had given her air and overfed her with milk. COUNT 12 GUILTY. Child J, allegation of attempted murder. No specific form of harm was identified by the prosecution but they said Letby did something to cause the collapse of the baby girl. COUNT 13 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. Child K, allegation of attempted murder. The prosecution said Letby compromised the baby girl as she deliberately dislodged a breathing tube. COUNT 14 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. Child L, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said the nurse poisoned the twin baby boy with insulin. COUNT 15 GUILTY. Child M, allegation of attempted murder. Prosecutors said Letby injected air into the bloodstream of Child L's twin brother. COUNT 16 GUILTY. Child N, three allegations of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby inflicted trauma in the baby boy's throat and also injected him with air in the bloodstream. COUNT 17 GUILTY, COUNT 18 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT, COUNT 19 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. Child O, allegation of murder. Prosecutors say Letby attacked the triplet boy by injecting him with air, overfeeding him with milk and inflicting trauma to his liver with "severe force". COUNT 20 GUILTY. Child P, allegation of murder. Prosecutors said the nurse targeted the triplet brother of Child O by overfeeding him with milk, injecting air and dislodging his breathing tube. COUNT 21 GUILTY. Child Q, allegation of attempted murder. The Crown said Letby injected the baby boy with liquid, and possibly air, down his feeding tube. COUNT 22 JURY COULD NOT REACH VERDICT. 10 Letby carried out the rampage while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital 10 She then lied to police in her interview back in 2018 Credit: Derbyshire Constabulary
