Officers have made two arrests in connection with an investigation into the use of a “text message blaster”, believed to have been used to send thousands of smishing messages, posing as banks and other official organisations, to members of the public.
In what is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, an illegitimate telephone mast is believed to have been used as an “SMS blaster” to send messages that bypass mobile phone networks’ systems in place to block suspicious text messages.
One arrest was made on 9 May in Manchester and on 23 May, a further arrest was made in London.
Huayong Xu, 32, of Alton Road, Croydon was charged on 23 May with possession of articles for use in fraud and was remanded in custody. He will appear at Inner London Crown Court on 26 June. The other arrested person was bailed.
Officers from the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), worked with mobile network operators, Ofcom and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector David Vint, head of the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (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.”