A highly unusual case of fraud involving advanced technology, with two Chinese men aged 29 and 30 as the main suspects, is being investigated by the Hellenic Police. The two men are accused of forging certificates, committing fraud, and illegally accessing information systems.

The case began when an employee of a large shopping mall in Spata noticed the two men and alerted the police, as they had previously carried out suspicious transactions at the mall. When authorities arrived at the scene, they inspected the suspects’ vehicle and discovered something unprecedented: inside the trunk was specialized electronic equipment along with five mobile phones.

The investigation revealed that the trunk had been specially modified, with dedicated equipment installed and an antenna mounted on the roof of the vehicle. The system was also connected to a portable router, allowing continuous internet access.

According to the Hellenic Police, the two suspects used this equipment to “deceive” victims’ mobile phones and gain access to their banking data.

The SMS Blaster Attack method

The method they used is known as an “SMS Blaster Attack.” This type of attack is a specialized form of malicious activity in which perpetrators use Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technologies and fake mobile phone base stations. Their aim is to “trap” mobile devices, intercept data, and send deceptive SMS messages (phishing).

The attack operates by exploiting vulnerabilities in the 2G protocol, which, although outdated, is still supported by a large number of devices for compatibility reasons.

So far, it has been established that the suspects carried out at least three such attacks. Although they did not manage to steal large sums (around €2,000), it is considered very likely that there are many more victims who are unaware of the fraud. The investigation is continuing, with authorities also examining other possible ramifications of the case.