Canadian authorities have arrested three men accused of operating an “SMS blaster” device that pretended to be a real mobile tower to send phishing text messages directly to nearby phones.
Police say the tool works by copying signals from legitimate cellular towers. Phones in the area automatically connect because the fake signal appears stronger. Once connected, attackers can send scam messages that look like they come from trusted groups such as banks or government agencies.
These texts often contain links leading to fake websites designed to steal banking details, passwords, and other sensitive information. Unlike normal spam texts, no phone numbers are needed. Anyone within range can be targeted, making it effective for mass phishing in crowded areas.
Toronto Police Service said the investigation, called Project Lighthouse, began in November 2025 after reports of suspicious activity in downtown Toronto.
Investigators found the equipment was being used from moving vehicles, allowing suspects to travel across the Greater Toronto Area and target large numbers of people. Authorities believe the operation led to around 13 million cases of mobile network entrapment.
Beyond phishing risks, connected phones were temporarily cut off from their real mobile network, meaning users may have been unable to contact emergency services during that time.
Police searched locations in Markham and Hamilton on March 31, where they seized several SMS blasters and electronic devices. Two suspects were arrested immediately, while a third later surrendered on April 21.
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Security experts recommend disabling 2G network fallback on Android devices where possible, though advanced systems may still target LTE or 5G signals. Users are also urged to avoid clicking links in text messages and to use encrypted apps for sensitive communication.
