ENGLISH NEWS: MAN WHO BLACKMAILED PORN VIEWERS OUT OF MILLIONS ORDERED TO PAY BACK £270,000

A MAN who was caught pocketing millions of pounds from blackmailing people who visited pornography websites has been ordered to pay back over £270,000 to cover the costs.

Zain Qaiser, 25, from Essex, England, was handed a six-year sentence earlier this year after admitting being part of a Russian-speaking cyber crime group. The National Crime Agency (NCA) described the gang as responsible for the most serious case of cyber crime they have ever investigated, where their victims spread across 20 countries.

The former computer science student used advertising spaces on legal pornography sites to infiltrate victims’ devices with malware. This malware showed users a screen impersonating the police, demanding that the viewers paid a fine of up to £800.

Qaiser splashed his ill-gotten gains on hotel stays in high end establishments, prostitutes, gambling, drugs and even a £5,000 Rolex watch.

However, last week at a confiscation hearing in Kingston Crown Court, Qaiser was ordered to hand over £270,864.47 – a sum calculated on an assessment of his available assets. He must also sell his prized watch which is currently being held by the NCA.

If he fails to pay back the money within three months, a further two years in prison will be added to his sentence where he will remain liable for the money.