Tube Fraudsters Used 'SMS Blasters' in Scam

Two individuals, Zhijia Fan, 48, and Daoyan Shang, 20, are on trial for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated phishing scam on the London Underground. The pair reportedly used large suitcases containing homemade 'SMS blasters,' devices designed to mimic cell towers and trick nearby phones into connecting. This allowed them to broadcast fraudulent text messages, pretending to be from legitimate companies like Evri or Royal Mail, about failed parcel deliveries.

Commuters were enticed to click sham links within these messages, a tactic known as 'smishing,' with the ultimate goal of harvesting personal details for bank account fraud. Prosecutors described the crude yet effective gadgets, which often malfunctioned. The investigation gained traction when an observant off-duty British Transport Police officer noticed one of the suspects' suitcases, characterized by numerous holes for the bulky equipment, leading to the pair's eventual arrest.

Zhijia Fan is alleged to be the 'top boss' of this organised crime group, directing operations, while Daoyan Shang served as his 'right-hand man.' The prosecution asserts that their actions, along with others implicated, clearly demonstrate a conspiracy to defraud the public. Further evidence includes discussions about deploying similar scams on the Paris Metro, suggesting a broader international dimension to Fan's alleged fraudulent activities.