Croydon man accused of using homemade aerial to send suspicious text messages pretending to be banks

A Corydon man has been accused of using a homemade “text blaster” to send thousands of fraudulent text messages pretending to be people’s banks. Huayong Xu, 32, of Alton Road, Croydon, is suspected of being responsible for the operation, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

An illegitimate phone tower is believed to have been used as an “SMS blaster” to send messages that bypass existing mobile phone network systems to block suspicious text messages. These texts are supposed to have posed as banks and other official organizations to members of the public. This is known as “smishing” or SMS phishing.

Huayong Xu was arrested and charged on May 23 with possession of articles for the purpose of fraud and was remanded in custody. He will appear at Inner London Crown Court on June 26. Another person was also arrested on May 9 in Manchester but has since been released on bail.

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Officers from the Cards and Payments Crime Unit (DCPCU) worked with mobile network operators, Ofcom and the National Cyber ​​Security Center (NCSC).

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector David Vint, Head of the Dedicated Cards and Payments Crime Unit (DCPCU) at the City of London Police, said: “Criminals who commit these types of crime are becoming more sophisticated, working in more sophisticated ways. complex to fool unsuspecting members of the public and steal anything they can get their hands on. It is vital that we work with partners to prevent the public from becoming victims.

“Remember, a bank or other official authority will not ask you to share personal information by text or phone. If you think you have received a fraudulent text message, report it by sending it to 7726.”

How to protect yourself from potential phishing text messages

• Most phone providers are part of a scheme that allows customers to report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding it to 7726. If you forward a text message to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban it the sender, if found to be malicious.
• If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of a phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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