Federal Reserve (FED) · Datacenter Dynamics
Toronto police make three arrests as part of 'SMS blaster' cyber fraud investigation
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Toronto police have arrested three suspects as part of an investigation into an alleged cybercrime group over its use of a mobile “SMS blaster.”
Key facts
- Dafeng Lin, 27, of Hamilton, and Junmin Shi, 25, of Markham, were arrested on March 31, 2026
- Following an investigation, on March 31, law enforcement executed Criminal Code search warrants at residences in Markham and Hamilton, arresting two men
- According to the Toronto Police Service, the investigation, dubbed Project Lighthouse, is a first-of-its-kind investigation
- The investigation was carried out in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3) and Federal Policing
- Central Region, York Regional Police
Summary
An SMS blaster is a device that mimics a legitimate cellular tower, and once activated, it causes nearby mobile phones to connect to it instead of a real network. Often, these messages contain links directing users to fake websites designed to steal personal, financial, or login information, a tactic commonly known as “smishing.” “This is a new and emerging threat in Canada, one that uses advanced technology to reach thousands of people at once and exploit their trust,” said Deputy Chief Robert Johnson.