London police have arrested two people in connection with a scheme that used an “SMS blaster” to send thousands of fraudulent text messages. The messages impersonated banks and official organisations and attempted to trick recipients into revealing personal and financial information.
Investigators, who say this is likely the first case of its kind in the UK, discovered an illegal mobile mast being used as an SMS blaster. This device allowed the perpetrators to bypass the anti-spam and security measures mobile networks use to block suspicious texts.
The first arrest took place on 9 May in Manchester, with a second arrest made in London on 23 May.
On 23 May, 32-year-old Huayong Xu of Alton Road, Croydon, was charged with possession of articles for use in fraud and was remanded in custody. Xu is due to appear at Inner London Crown Court on 26 June. The second suspect was released on bail.
The operation was carried out by officers from the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) working alongside mobile network operators, the telecoms regulator Ofcom, and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector David Vint, head of the DCPCU, warned that criminals are becoming more sophisticated: “The criminals committing these types of crimes are only getting smarter, working in more complex ways to trick unknowing members of the public and steal whatever they can get their hands on. It is vital we work with partners to help prevent the public from falling victim to fraud.”
Vint also offered practical advice to protect the public: “Remember, a bank or another official authority will not ask you to share personal information over text or phone. If you think you have received a fraudulent text message, report it by forwarding it to 7726.”
Most UK mobile providers participate in a free reporting scheme that allows customers to forward suspicious texts to 7726. Forwarding a message helps providers investigate and take action to block malicious senders.
Anyone who has lost money or shared financial details as a result of a scam should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud. In Scotland, people should contact Police Scotland on 101.
(Photo by Markus Winkler)
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