Tejay Fletcher jailed for running iSpoof, a multi-million pound criminal website | UK News

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The 35-year-old’s website allowed criminals and scammers to appear as if they were calling from banks and tax offices in an attempt to defraud victims.

The man responsible for running a multi-million pound fraudulent website used by scammers to trick people into handing over their bank details has been jailed.

Texas Fletcher, 35, pleaded guilty to running iSpoofa website that allowed criminals and scammers to appear as if they were calling from banks, tax offices and other official bodies in an attempt to defraud victims.

They posed as representatives of banks including Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, NatWest, Nationwide and TSB.

Total losses from iSpoof-enabled fraud in the UK alone exceeded £43m, with total global losses estimated to be at least £100m.

Judge Sally Cahill KC jailed Fletcher for 13 years and four months on Friday.

She told him: “For all the victims it was a heartbreaking experience,” but added that he “didn’t care” about them at the time.

“The late expression of remorse is regret for being caught rather than empathy for the victims,” ​​he said.

At one point, up to 20 people per minute were being targeted by criminals calling from masked phone numbers using technology purchased from iSpoof.

One victim lost £3 million. The average loss among the 4,785 people who reported being targeted by Action Fraud was £10,000.

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But the total number of victims is believed to have been around 200,000 worldwide. Of 10 million fraudulent calls made, 40% were made in the US, 35% in the UK, and the rest spread across other countries.

Fletcher, who has 18 previous convictions for 36 offences, founded the site in December 2020 and was also its main administrator, earning him around £2m.

The Met said that at its peak the website had 59,000 users. It also offered tools to get passwords and PINs, as well as call-scam technology.

Users paid hundreds or thousands of pounds a month for its features, which were marketed in a channel of the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

The court heard that Fletcher used the proceeds to buy a £230,000 Lamborghini and also spent a total of £120,000 on two Range Rovers for himself and his girlfriend.

Police also found a money counter, jewelery and an £11,000 Rolex at his home.

The fraudster was caught following what the Metropolitan Police previously described as the largest fraud investigation in its history.

Simon Baker KC, defending, said Fletcher had no idea when he stepped up the website that it would be used for large-scale fraud.

But the judge told Fletcher: “As is the case with any successful business, you probably did not realize how successful and profitable your venture would be.”

‘A complex and challenging case’

He pleaded guilty to manufacturing or supplying items for use in fraud, encouraging or assisting in the commission of crime, possessing criminal property and transferring criminal property, during a previous appearance at Southwark Crown Court in April.

Kate Anderson, Deputy Chief Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The cost to the many victims in this case has not only been financial, but has also had a great emotional impact, causing extreme anguish and devastation to those affected, many of whom who robbed them of their life savings.

“This was a complex and challenging case, and I would like to thank the Metropolitan Police and the many national and international law enforcement partners who worked with the CPS to secure the evidence for us to present.”

It added: “We will continue to work with investigators to prosecute the scammers who used the website and will continue forfeiture proceedings against Fletcher to recover the money he earned from his crime.

“We hope this case encourages anyone who thinks they have been the victim of fraud to come forward and report it to the police.”