In a substantial blow to cybercrime, a UK resident notorious for his role as the operator of the infamous online phone number spoofing service, iSpoof, has earned himself a considerable 13-year and 4-month prison sentence.
The conviction
The perpetrator, Tejay Fletcher, a 35-year-old resident of Western Gateway, London, received his sentence on May 18, 2023. Fletcher had admitted to an array of cyber crimes last month, including promoting fraudulent activities and possession and transfer of ill-gotten assets.
iSpoof functioned as a paid service, providing scammers the ability to hide their actual phone numbers. It enabled them to impersonate representatives from reputable institutions such as banks and tax offices to trick unsuspecting victims.
The deception
The devious help desk scam aimed to raise alarm about dubious activities on victims’ accounts, luring them into revealing sensitive financial details or transferring money to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
The UK Metropolitan Police disclosed that the culprits impersonated representatives of various recognized banks including Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, Natwest, Nationwide, and TSB.
The service offered multiple packages, allowing users to purchase call time for the spoofing software using Bitcoin.
Reported losses from victims in the UK alone are believed to exceed £48 million ($59.8 million). Globally, the damage is estimated to surpass £100 million ($124.6 million).
Authorities dismantled iSpoof in November 2022, resulting in Fletcher’s arrest alongside 168 individuals linked to the operation.
Fletcher, who flaunted a lavish lifestyle, reportedly amassed around £1.7 – £1.9 million ($2.1 – $2.3 million) in unlawful profits. Among his extravagant possessions were a Range Rover, a Lamborghini Urus, and high-end Rolex and Audemars Piguet watches.
The cybercriminal’s tactics
Through a platform named The iSpoof Club on the messaging app Telegram, Fletcher actively marketed iSpoof. The channel functioned as a promotional platform, updating users on the service’s latest features and enhancements.
Post his arrest, a search of his premises revealed over 30 mobile phones and numerous SIM cards, all integral to the deceptive operation.
“By setting up iSpoof, Fletcher created a gateway for thousands of criminals to defraud innocent victims out of millions of pounds,” noted Detective Superintendent Helen Rance. “Meanwhile he was living a luxury lifestyle benefitting from the profits.”
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