David Levi, 29, from Lytham, Lancashire, defrauded internet users of some £200,000 on auction site eBay by tricking punters into disclosing their account details.
At Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, he admitted three counts of fraud and perverting the course of justice.
The scam worked by duping punters to use a bogus eBay site, where the gang would offer expensive items, such as laptop computers and designer watches, before stashing the cash.
More than 160 people were conned between July 2003 and July 2004.
Also involved in the swindle was Levi’s younger brother Guy, 22, who was handed a 21-month prison sentence, as well as computer expert Daniel Lett, who will serve a two-year term.
Four other men - Derek Anderson, Chris Worden, Craig Jameson and Gareth Rice - who allowed their bank accounts to be used to hide the money were jailed for six months.
Last week, three Romanian conmen were jailed in London for a world-wide scam that netted at least £300,000 from thousands of eBay traders.

Posted: 11|3|05 at 9:54 am. Filed under: US News.