Police Warn of New SMS Scam Device Flooding Phones with Fraudulent Texts
Criminals are using ‘SMS blasters’ to send thousands of scam messages undetected — right from the boots of their cars.
A man has been jailed in the UK for using a high-tech SMS “blaster” device to send out scam messages to thousands of unsuspecting mobile phone users in London.
Ruichen Xiong, a Chinese student, was sentenced to over a year in prison after driving around the capital between 22 and 27 March 2025 with the device concealed in the boot of his black Honda CR-V. The messages — which appeared to be from legitimate organisations such as HMRC — were designed to steal personal and financial information.
How the Scam Works
The SMS blaster functions like a rogue mobile tower, imitating a 2G network to connect directly with nearby phones. This allows scammers to:
Send messages to all nearby devices, without knowing their numbers
Bypass mobile networks’ anti-spam filters
Spoof legitimate senders such as banks or government agencies
Victims receive “smishing” messages containing links that ask for sensitive details, such as bank or ID information. These details are then exploited for fraud.
A Growing Global Threat
This emerging tactic first surfaced in the UK in 2024, with police making initial arrests in Manchester and London. Similar cases have since been reported in New Zealand and Thailand, where the technology is beginning to spread among organised crime groups.
When used in densely populated areas, SMS blasters can send scam messages to hundreds of phones at once — with no warning or trace on mobile networks.
Protect Yourself from Smishing Attacks
The UK’s Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) led the investigation that resulted in Xiong’s arrest. Det Ch Insp Paul Curtisat the DCPCU said: “Criminals are sophisticated and will continuously make attempts to bypass fraud prevention measures designed to protect consumers.
“They’ll make every attempt to steal personal and financial information, so it’s important that customers are alert to potential threats of fraud, particularly text messages.”
Safety Tips:
Report suspicious texts: Forward them to 7726 (free on all UK networks)
Never click on unknown links or share personal details via SMS