A teenage boy from regional New South Wales has been charged with orchestrating a series of hoax emergency calls to the United States, falsely reporting mass shootings at schools and retail outlets.
Global Investigation Uncovers Online Crime Network
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation after receiving a tip-off from the FBI. The probe targeted an Australian-based member of a shadowy, decentralised online crime network involved in the dangerous practice known as 'swatting'.
This crime involves making fraudulent calls to emergency services to provoke heavily armed police raids, a tactic authorities warn can have deadly consequences. In December, AFP officers raided a home in regional NSW, seizing multiple electronic devices and a firearm.
Serious Charges for Alleged Offences
The teenager now faces a string of serious charges. These include 12 counts of using a telecommunications network to commit a serious offence and conveying false information about danger. He has also been charged with possessing a prohibited firearm, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
The boy was due to appear before a NSW Children's Court on Tuesday. The investigation is part of the international Taskforce Pompilid, launched in October 2025, which involves the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (Australia, the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand) aiming to dismantle such networks.
Authorities Condemn 'Cowardly' Acts with Global Impact
Acting AFP Assistant Commissioner Graeme Marshall stated the case underscores the far-reaching impact of online crime. 'This young individual allegedly caused widespread alarm and turmoil to thousands of people, businesses and services in the US, resulting in significant financial and emotional harm,' he said.
Marshall noted that perpetrators, often young males aged 11-25, engage in swatting, doxxing, and hacking to gain status within their online groups. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett labelled network members as 'cowards', typically young males from English-speaking countries who hold common beliefs in violent extremism, nihilism, and other harmful ideologies.
FBI Assistant Director Jason A. Kaplan emphasised the severe risks: 'The FBI views swatting as a dangerous and disruptive crime that endangers lives and drains critical emergency resources. This case demonstrates that anonymity online is an illusion.'
