Teenager was paid £2k to set up scam website
A TEENAGER was paid more than £2,000 to set up a phishing website which posed as an Amazon webpage and was used to steal people’s log-ins and financial information.
When police raided his home, they found cannabis and indecent images of children on devices in his home.
Blaine Flatt, now 21, was 16 when he was approached by an older man and asked to set up a “phishing” website.
It was intended that the website would steal customers’ login details or financial details such as card and security numbers.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the two entered into an agreement for Flatt to produce and set up the website, which had the address “amzconfimations.us”. It purported to be a genuine Amazon webpage, offering visitors to the website a refund.
Prosecutor Emma Harris said there were messages between the defendant and the older man over WhatsApp where arrangements were made to set up a “virtual personal server” needed to create the website.
The man told Flatt they would need to be “covert as f***”. There appeared to be disagreements between the two over payment, when Flatt messaged: “I have got all the proof I need in the courtroom.”
Ms Harris said the messages showed the defendant realised what he was doing was illegal. She said: “The prosecution’s case is emails were sent to individuals linked to a refunded purchase item or category.
“The link would take them to a website purporting to be from Amazon presenting a log in screen. Once entered the log-in details would be given to the defendant. These could have been used for other actions where financial information would be visible.”
The authorities’ attention was first drawn to Flatt after an IP address matching that of the defendant was found to have a Pinterest account containing indecent images of children.
On November 19, 2020, officers attended Flatt’s home in Bryn Cigfran, Bridgend, where they seized electronic items including iPhones, an iPad, laptop and a hard drive.
Police discovered a total of 23 category A images of children, 12 category B images, and 150 category C images, with the children depicted between 18-months and 14-years-old. Two “extreme” pornographic images were also discovered.
Police also discovered a total of 183g of cannabis, which the defendant claimed was for his own personal use.
Messages on Flatt’s phone revealed he had been supplying cannabis to others. A WhatsApp messages with a customer, referred to a drug deal at a nursery, and he posted messages on internet forums and message boards dedicated to cannabis.
Flatt was arrested and later pleaded guilty to making/supplying an article for use in fraud, possession of indecent and extreme images, being concerned in supply of cannabis, possession of cannabis.
The court heard he had no previous convictions.
In mitigation, Andrew Taylor said there had been a delay in the case reaching sentencing as the older man involved in the case had absconded and was believed to be in Asia. He said his client was 16 years old at the time the offending began, and suffered a difficult upbringing.
Sentencing, Judge Eugene Egan said: “You have made known you knew what you were doing was dishonest and would lead you to being in serious trouble. You sought to prey on and exploit (victims’) vulnerability.”
The judge went on to say he believed there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the defendant’s case.
Flatt was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months.
He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement. The defendant was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.