‘SMS blasters’ that mimic cell towers seized in Toronto cybercrime investigation

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 designed to steal personal, financial or log-in information.

Two men from Markham and another from Hamilton have been arrested and charged with a total of 44 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 added 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.