Three men have been jailed for a total of 13.5 years for their part in a sophisticated and concerted attack on the UK and international banking system following an investigation by the Met's Police Central e-Crime Unit.

The convictions are believed to be the first prosecutions in the UK involving such detailed evidence of an organised internet phishing operation and are the result of a prolonged investigation by the PCeU, codenamed Operation Dynamophone.

The investigation focused around a network of individuals who systematically obtained large quantities of personal information, such as online bank account passwords and credit card numbers, through online phishing in order to steal monies from those accounts, and fraudulently use credit card details.

The defendants were responsible for sending unsolicited emails to members of the public purporting to be from their bank and directing them, via a link, to visit the bank's web-page. However, the victims were in fact visiting a previously established bogus web-page where they were asked to confirm their online bank account or credit card account details. During the course of their investigation detectives gathered evidence to show that at the time of their arrest the defendants had possession of computer scripts necessary to operate forty such bogus bank web pages. In this way the defendants and other members of the criminal network were able to obtain the details of many thousands of bank account and credit card details.

In the majority of cases detected, the details were then used to carry out fraudulent bank transfers and credit card transactions.

DI Colin Wetherill, Police Central e-Crime Unit said: "In collaboration with law enforcement colleagues and industry partners both in the UK and overseas we are working to identify and bring to justice those committing serious and organised offences of this nature online, and to reduce the harm they cause to innocent individuals and to the economy. These convictions represent a significant step forward.

“However, we all have a role to play in the protection of our private information and we would urge the public to exercise great care when supplying their personal details online, and to take the advice given at www.getsafeonline.org".

David Levy, reviewing lawyer for the CPS Central Fraud Group, added: "These men profited enormously by taking advantage of the trust that many of us would place in an internet service that appeared genuine, but their enjoyment of their ill-gotten gains was short-lived. The bogus emails and websites that led victims into the scam also led the authorities to the scammers.

"Those who use the internet thinking they can phish with impunity should be warned by this case that you will be found out and you will be prosecuted."

Presiding Judge HHJ Sanders commented on the need to bring this type of offence to justice in view of how essential online banking and trading has become.

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