Manchester Crown Court has handed Zak Coyne, 23, of Woodbine Road, Huddersfield, an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence for running LabHost, a sophisticated criminal service launched in 2021 that allowed cybercriminals to create and deploy phishing websites designed to steal victims’ personal and financial data.
Coyne had previously pleaded guilty to multiple cybercrime offences, including making or supplying articles for use in fraud, encouraging others to commit fraud, and transferring criminal property.
LabHost operated as a subscription-based service, enabling more than 2,000 criminals worldwide to either access a library of pre-made phishing sites or commission custom-made pages that mimicked the branding of trusted institutions such as banks, healthcare providers, and postal services.
LabHost was taken down in April 2024 following a major operation carried out by law enforcement authorities from 19 countries. In a single month, police arrested 24 suspects linked to the service and executed search warrants at more than 70 locations across the UK.
