TL;DR: City of London Police reported on 1 September 2026 that a 43-year-old man from Preston was sentenced on 28 August to 3 years 8 months, reduced from 5 years 6 months for a guilty plea. He was arrested on 24 May 2024 at the Trafford Shopping Centre with the first SMS blaster ever seized by UK law enforcement, hidden in his van.
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What happened
As City of London Police describes, an SMS blaster is a rogue mobile antenna. With aerials fitted to the roof, it sends text messages straight to phones nearby and bypasses the networks' own security. Police found one hidden in the man's van in the shopping centre car park.
He used it to send smishing messages impersonating organisations such as Royal Mail, aiming to harvest payment and personal details. Officers found 7,859 compromised payment card details on his phones and three counterfeit UK driving licences used to open fraudulent bank accounts. He pleaded guilty to five counts, including fraud by false representation and unauthorised use of wireless telegraphy apparatus.
Why this matters
Because a blaster sends texts directly to handsets, the usual network filters may not catch them. A message can look as if it belongs in a genuine thread, so a familiar sender name is not proof that it is real.
How to protect yourself
- Do not tap links in unexpected parcel or delivery texts, even when they appear in an existing conversation.
- Forward the message to 7726, then delete it.
- Go to the carrier's official website or app by typing the address yourself.
- Never enter card details to release a parcel.
If you did enter details, call your bank straight away. Our guide to how to report a scam to Action Fraud covers the next steps, what to do after a scam, wherever you live is a general checklist, and the fake Action Fraud recovery scam warns about the follow-up scam that targets people who have already lost money.
What the case reveals about stolen cards
The haul found by police is a reminder that smishing is about volume. The 7,859 compromised card details on the man's phones and the three counterfeit driving licences used to open fraudulent bank accounts show how stolen details can feed further fraud. If you have ever entered card details after a text, ask your bank to cancel and replace the card, check recent transactions, and watch for new accounts or credit applications in your name. Keep screenshots of the message, because they help when you report it.
Where to report
Forward texts to 7726. If you have lost money, report it to Report Fraud (Action Fraud) (reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SMS blaster?
A rogue mobile antenna that sends texts directly to nearby phones, bypassing network security, according to City of London Police.
What was found in the van?
The first SMS blaster seized by UK law enforcement. Police also found 7,859 compromised card details on his phones and three counterfeit driving licences.
What was the sentence?
3 years 8 months, reduced from 5 years 6 months because he pleaded guilty.
What should I do with a suspicious parcel text?
Do not tap the link. Forward it to 7726 and check with the carrier through its official website.
Sources
- City of London Police: Man sentenced following first UK seizure of SMS blaster fraud equipment (Sep 1, 2026)
- Report Fraud (Action Fraud)
- Take Five to Stop Fraud
Related Reading
- Account Hacking Losses Jump 417% to £6.3 Million: Police Urge Passkeys
- £101 Million Stolen Through Payment Diversion Fraud as Police Warn Businesses and Public
- Courier Fraud Explained: How Fake Bank 'Investigators' Get Victims to Hand Over Cards and Buy Phones
- UK Scam News: October 2026 Roundup and Warnings
- What to do after a scam, wherever you live