HUDDERSFIELD, UK — A 23-year-old man from Huddersfield has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for his role in a £100 million international cyber fraud operation that targeted thousands of victims worldwide.
Zak Coyne, of Woodbine Road, was the mastermind behind LabHost, a criminal phishing service that provided over 2,000 fraudsters with fake websites designed to mimic trusted brands—including banks, healthcare providers, and postal services. These fraudulent pages tricked users into handing over sensitive information such as passwords, email addresses, and bank details.
The platform, described by authorities as “a phishing factory”, allowed paying members to choose from existing scam sites or request custom-made pages tailored to their criminal operations.
Global Operation Taken Down
In April 2024, the Metropolitan Police’s Cyber Crime Unit, in collaboration with the National Crime Agency and Microsoft, dismantled LabHost in a massive international operation. Over 70 addresses were raided and 24 suspects were arrested, including some of the most active users of the platform.
Coyne pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to multiple charges, including:
Creating and supplying fraudulent tools
Encouraging criminal activity
Money laundering
He was sentenced on Monday, April 14, following his guilty plea in September 2024.
