Student Hacker Jailed For Blackmailing Porn Users

9 April 2019, 11:15 | Updated: 9 April 2019, 11:28

UK's most significant cyber crime offender jailed
UK's most significant cyber crime offender jailed. Picture: PA

A computer hacker who blackmailed porn users online has been jailed for more than six years.

Zain Qaiser, described as “probably the most significant cyber crime offender" that the National Crime Agency has investigated, was sentenced today at Kingston Crown Court to six years and five months in prison.

Qaiser, 24, is believed to have worked for an international Russian crime group. The court heard that he made more than £550,000 personally, but investigators believe the network he was part of could have made more than £4m.

Prosecutors said that the student from Barking, threatened people using porn websites with adverts infected with malware.

Infected computers showed a message pretending to be from authorities in the user’s country, claiming a crime had been committed and demanding payment of up to $1,000 dollars.

Mike Hulett, head of Cyber Investigations for the National Crime agency, said: "The sheer volume and complexity of the actions - the number of people he is connected with worldwide and the frequency of his operation made it so successful and led to him making the money that he did.

"I don't think we will ever know the true number of people who paid up."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Ingrid Lackova, 15.

Police launch urgent hunt for missing girl, 15, not seen since Monday

The UK has a 50:50 chance of seeing temperatures soar to 40C again in the next 12 years

Heatwaves above 40C and scorching weather 'lasting over a month' the future for UK weather, says Met Office

Indonesia

Flights cancelled and villages evacuated after volcanic eruption spews 11km tower of ash into air

Penryn College's deputy headteacher is accused of having sexual relations with a former pupil.

Married deputy headteacher 'had sex with pupil, 16, in her house when dad was away', court hears

The NHS logo.

NHS launches new drive to find more people with deadly pancreatic cancer

Doctor injecting collagen into young womans lip

Warning over 'Wild West' treatments as procedures such as lip injections and butt lifts 'offered in public toilets'

Pamela Anderson arrives on the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala

Pamela Anderson says filters and AI being used on photos has led to people becoming 'boring-looking'

Iran's ongoing retaliatory attacks with ballistic missiles towards Israel are seen from Tel Aviv, Israel

Trump calls for 'unconditional surrender' from Iran - as US President 'considering US strike on Iran'

A man walks past empty shelves in a branch of the Co-op in Manchester following the major cyber attack.

Major UK supermarket offering 25% off £40 shops in ‘thank you’ to members after cyber attack

Cyclists are sending a record amount of video footage to police after being overtaken too closely by motorists, new figures show.

Cyclists sending record number of videos to police after being overtaken too closely by drivers, figures show

Exclusive
Suspended chief constable Nick Adderley

Disgraced police chief slammed for ‘unacceptable’ role in Harry Dunn case

Grenfell tower cover in white tarpaulin

Government pressed over why Grenfell cladding ‘crooks’ not behind bars

Donald Trump is said to be considering joining Israel in striking Iran

Trump 'considering US strike on Iran' - hours after claiming to know supreme leader's location

The biggest lottery prize the UK has seen could still be won after Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw had no winners.

EuroMillions record £208 million jackpot won by single ticket holder

Referee David Coote has been sacked.

Sacked Premier League referee David Coote charged by FA over ‘German c***’ Jurgen Klopp comments

Exclusive
Relatives of the Palestinians killed in Israeli attack, mourn as they carry the bodies to Nasser hospital for funeral procedures in Khan Yunis

Israeli Ambassador denies IDF is 'targeting civilians' as medics say 59 Palestinians killed by IDF at aid distribution centre