Toronto Police Arrest 3 in Canada's First SMS Blaster Case

Toronto Police Service announced the arrests of three men charged with 44 offenses in Canada's first known case involving an SMS blaster, a device used to send fraudulent text messages to thousands of mobile phones across the Greater Toronto Area.

The investigation, named Project Lighthouse, began in November 2025 after a cybersecurity partner reported suspicious activity from a suspected SMS blaster in downtown Toronto. Authorities determined the device, operated from vehicles, mimicked legitimate cellular towers to trick nearby phones into connecting due to stronger signals. Once connected, it broadcast phishing texts appearing from trusted sources such as banks or government agencies. The messages contained links to fake websites designed to steal banking credentials and passwords, a tactic known as smishing.

Over several months, investigators believe tens of thousands of devices connected to the blaster, resulting in more than 13 million network disruptions. During these periods, affected phones were diverted from legitimate networks, potentially blocking access to emergency services like 911. "What makes this particularly concerning is the scale and impact," Deputy Chief...