SMS Blasters: An Expanding Frontier in Smishing Attacks

Cybercriminals use SMS (short message service) or text blasters in smishing attacks, sending a wide range of fraudulent messages. By mimicking legitimate cell towers, these SMS/text blasters bypass carrier-level protections, such as enhanced screening and flagging of suspicious messages and deliver messages that appear legitimate to mobile users. This Javelin Strategy & Research impact note outlines how SMS/text blasters are used, many times by organized cybercrime gangs, to deliver smishing messages, why these tactics are dangerous, and precautions organizations can take to face this cyber threat.