Man jailed for conspiring to create scam website

A man from Bolton has been jailed for commissioning a phishing website. His intention was to deceive members of the public into thinking they were accessing a genuine Amazon webpage, with the intention of harvesting their personal information.

An investigation led by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales, found that 31-year-old Ewan McGavin, from Horwich, Bolton, had paid Blaine Flatt to develop the website.

22-year-old Blaine Flatt, of Broadlands, Bridgend, was sentenced to a number of offences – including making or supplying articles for use in frauds – in February 2024 having entered a guilty plea. Flatt received a suspended 2-year custodial sentence, and a 200-hour unpaid work requirement.

McGavin was out of the country when his co-accused was being tried. McGavin was arrested and held on remand upon his return to the UK. He was found guilty by a jury on January 10, 2025.

McGavin has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an either way offence.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Jack Harris, of Tarian, said:

“I hope this case demonstrates to cyber criminals and fraudsters operating in the UK that you will be pursued by us and brought to justice. This type of offending can cause serious harm and distress to members of the public who are unfortunate enough to be targeted by phishing scams.

“Phishing is an attempt by criminals to use scam websites or emails to trick their victims into giving out their personal or financial information, or into downloading malicious files. The websites or emails will be made to look like they belong to legitimate companies or organisations so that intended victims trust them.

“I would encourage everyone to ensure they are aware of the signs of phishing scams so they can protect themselves and their loved ones. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has useful resources: Top tips for staying secure online – NCSC.GOV.UK

“There are also resources for organisations and businesses who are often the target of phishing scams:  Phishing attacks: defending your organisation – NCSC.GOV.UK

“I would also encourage everyone to be vigilant about the information they share on social media. Criminals will use personal information they find on social media accounts to make their scams sound more convincing to their intended target. Please review your privacy settings and ensure you are only sharing personal data will people you know and trust.

“If you believe you may have been affected by a phishing website or email, report it to Action Fraud: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

“In an emergency, always dial 999.”

Be Vigilant against Scammers and Phishing Attempts

Scammers are a serious threat to individuals and businesses alike, often pretending to be legitimate opportunities or requests. One of the most dangerous and intrusive forms of scams is phishing, which almost always involves sending fake emails, text messages, or instant messages that appear to be from a trusted source, such as a bank, government agency, or online retailer.

Phishing scammers aim to trick victims into entrusting them with sensitive and important information, such as login details, financial information, or personal data. As scammers continually evolve and adapt their tactics, it is crucial for individuals and businesses to remain vigilant and educated about the warning signs of a potential scam, including unsolicited offers, urgent or threatening requests, and poor grammar or spelling.

Being made aware of the dangers and taking the precautions to mitigate the threat of being scammed, such as verifying the authenticity of requests by contacting your bank or retailer directly. It is crucial that you never divulge any sensitive information to unknown parties.