Tejay Fletcher, a 35-year-old U.K. national, has been sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison for his involvement as the administrator of the iSpoof online phone number spoofing service.
Furthermore, iSpoof allowed fraudsters to disguise their phone numbers as representatives from banks and tax offices, perpetrating scams that deceived victims into revealing sensitive financial information or transferring money to the criminals‘ accounts.
The service, available for a fee, targeted individuals by assuming false identities from prominent banks such as Barclays, Santander, HSBC, and others.
According to the U.K. Metropolitan Police, the total losses incurred by victims in the country exceeded £48 million ($59.8 million), with the global losses estimated to be at least £100 million ($124.6 million).
Additionally, the iSpoof operation was dismantled in November 2022, leading to the arrest of Fletcher and 168 other individuals connected to the scheme. Fletcher is believed to have earned approximately £1.7 – £1.9 million ($2.1 – $2.3 million) in illegal profits, enjoying a lavish lifestyle that included luxury vehicles and high-end watches.
During the investigation, law enforcement authorities discovered over 30 mobile phones and multiple SIM cards at Fletcher’s residence, revealing the extent of his involvement in the fraudulent activities.
Detective Superintendent Helen Rance remarked that Fletcher’s establishment of iSpoof provided an avenue for numerous criminals to defraud innocent victims of millions of pounds.
The successful prosecution of Fletcher highlights the commitment of authorities to combat cyber offenses and protect individuals from sophisticated fraud schemes.
