CEO Matthias Yeo shares about "What is an SMS blaster" in the recent scam of Man driving around sending 10,000 Phishing sms

Man drove around Singapore with 'SMS blaster' that sent more than 10,000 phishing messages, gets jail

However, the device, known as an SMS blaster, was really transmitting phishing messages intended to trick phone users into providing their WhatsApp login details through a fraudulent webpage. Third parties could then use the information to take over WhatsApp accounts.

Daniel Martin speaks to Matthias Yeo, CEO of Cyber X Center, about how the technology works, why the messages can look legitimate, and how you can spot them.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/listen/cna938-rewind/what-sms-blaster-and-how-could-it-text-you-even-without-your-phone-number-sgtoday-6386181

In the interview, Matthias point can be summarised as follows:

• SMS blasters can send messages without knowing the recipient’s phone number, by exploiting how nearby mobile devices interact with cellular networks.

• The technology can reach many phones in a specific physical area, making it attractive to scammers targeting crowded locations.

• The messages can appear legitimate because they are delivered through the phone’s normal SMS channel, rather than through an internet messaging app.

• The major risk is phishing — scammers can use the SMS to direct victims to fraudulent websites, steal credentials or obtain sensitive information.

• Users should not assume that an SMS is trustworthy simply because it appears in their normal SMS inbox. They should examine links carefully and verify the message through an official channel before taking action.