‘SMS blasters’ that mimic cell towers seized in Toronto cybercrime investigation
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $1.44 a week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
TORONTO – Toronto police say they have seized the first mobile “SMS blasters” known to have been used in Canada, in what they call an emerging public safety threat.
Police say the mobile units mimic cell towers and send fraudulent text messages to connected phones with links to websites deigned to steal personal, financial or log-in information.
Toronto police say three men from Markham and Hamilton have been arrested and charged with offences including fraud and mischief.
Police say in November 2025, a “cybersecurity partner” alerted law enforcement to a mobile SMS blaster operating in downtown Toronto.
They say the blaster connected to thousands of devices at different locations across the Greater Toronto Area over several months.
Police allege the disruptions could temporarily prevent the affected devices from connecting to legitimate cellular networks, limiting access to 911 for periods ranging from seconds to several minutes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2026.