Two arrests for a homemade mobile antenna sent thousands of smishing messages into the public

Two people have been arrested in an investigation into a ‘text blaster’ believed to have sent thousands of scathing messages posing as banks and other official organisations.

The City of London Police said a illegitimate phone mast was used to send messages that bypassed mobile phone network systems used to block suspicious text messages.

The incident is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

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

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

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

The other arrested person was released on bail.

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

Acting Detective Chief Inspector David Vint, head of the DCPCU, said: “Criminals who commit these types of crime are only getting smarter, working in more complex ways to fool unsuspecting members of the public and steal anything they can put their hand.

“It is vital that we work with partners to prevent the public from falling victim to fraud.

“Remember, a bank or other official authority will not ask you to share personal information by text or phone.

“If you think you’ve received a fraudulent text message, report it by sending it to 7726.”