Toronto police arrest group accused of sending malicious SMS blasts across the city

Toronto police have arrested three men and laid 44 charges in connection with an alleged SMS blaster operation that authorities say targeted thousands of mobile devices across downtown Toronto. According to police, the activity began in November 2025 and marks the “first known instance” of an SMS blaster being used in Canada.

In a statement, the Toronto Police Service said investigators believe tens of thousands of phones and tablets received spam text messages over several months.

SMS blasters work by imitating legitimate cell towers and transmitting a stronger signal than nearby towers, causing surrounding mobile devices to connect to the rogue system instead. Once devices connect, the SMS blaster can send thousands of text messages, often containing links to phishing websites that mimic login pages for legitimate companies and services. These devices exploit vulnerabilities in older 2G cellular networks.

Police said the alleged scheme was intended to steal usernames, passwords, and banking credentials from victims. Detective Sergeant Lindsay Riddell of the Toronto Police said during a press conference that financial information was among the primary targets of the operation.

Authorities also warned that SMS blasters can interfere with nearby cellular service and potentially disrupt access to emergency services, including 911 calls.

Police released a photo of a similar SMS blaster previously recovered during an investigation in the United Kingdom, but declined to share an image of the device seized in Toronto, citing safety concerns.

According to investigators, the SMS blaster used in Toronto was “uniquely built” and operated from the back of a vehicle, allowing the suspects to move throughout different parts of the city while carrying out the operation.

Police also referenced a similar case from 2024 in Thailand, where authorities arrested members of a criminal gang accused of running an SMS blaster from the back of a truck in Bangkok. That operation reportedly sent nearly one million text messages within just three days.

Security experts and law enforcement officials recommend that users disable 2G connectivity on their devices to reduce the risk of being targeted by SMS blasters. Apple users can also enable Lockdown Mode, which disables 2G cellular support on compatible devices.