Two arrests over homemade mobile antenna used to send thousands of smishing texts to public

Two people have been arrested as part of an investigation into a “text message blaster” believed to have sent thousands of smishing messages posing as banks and other official organisations.

The City of London Police said an illegitimate telephone mast was used to send messages that bypass mobile phone networks’ systems used to block suspicious text messages.

The incident is considered the first of its kind in the UK.

An arrest was made in Manchester on May 9 before a further arrest was made in London on May 23

Huayong Xu, 32, of Alton Road, Croydon was charged on May 23 with possession of articles for use in fraud and was remanded in custody.

He will appear at Inner London Crown Court on June 26.

The other arrested person was bailed.

Officers from the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) worked on the case with mobile network operators, Ofcom and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector David Vint, head of the DCPCU said: “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.

“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.”

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