Security researchers are sounding the alarm on a looming global wave of smishing attacks, warning that a powerful phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform named Lucid—run by Chinese-speaking threat actors—is enabling cybercriminals to scale operations across 88 countries. 

According to threat intelligence firm Catalyst, Lucid has evolved from local-level operations into a globally disruptive tool, with a sharp increase in activity anticipated by early 2025. The platform allows attackers to send malicious links via Apple iMessage and Android’s Rich Communication Services, bypassing traditional telecom network filters. It also features a credit card validator, helping criminals confirm stolen financial information in real time. 

Lucid’s architecture offers an automated, subscription-based model that supports customizable phishing campaigns, leveraging anti-detection strategies like IP blocking, user-agent filtering, and time-limited URLs to avoid scrutiny. Threat actors using Lucid are increasingly impersonating trusted entities—such as government agencies, postal services, and toll collection services—to deceive victims and steal sensitive data. 

The U.S. has been hit particularly hard, with smishing scams prompting alerts from the FBI, FTC, state governments, and attorneys general. What sets Lucid apart is its efficiency and scale: researchers say it can send over 100,000 phishing messages per day. Its structure includes roles ranging from administrators to guest users, with weekly licensing options and automatic suspensions for non-renewal. 

These campaigns are notably effective, with a reported success rate of 5%. By operating over the internet and using device fingerprinting and geo-targeted phishing pages, Lucid boosts its reach while staying under the radar. 

It sources phone numbers through data breaches, OSINT, and darknet markets, making it one of the most sophisticated PhaaS platforms today—alongside others like Darcula and Lighthouse. As cybercriminals continue to embrace this plug-and-play model, experts fear smishing will become an even more pervasive threat in the months ahead.