Four arrested in crackdown on Discord-Based SWATting and doxing

How badly do you want to win an online argument? I certainly hope it's not enough to put the life of the other person at risk.

Police in Hungary and Romania have arrested four young men suspected of making hoax bomb threats and terrorising internet users through SWATting and doxing attacks.

A video released by law enforcement shows how officers simultaneously swooped in co-ordinated raids on four locations across Hungary and Romania, seizing computers, smartphones, and other digital evidence.

According to a press release by Hungarian police, the investigation began in the middle of last year when authorities received multiple alarming reports within the space of a few days.

Anonymous callers were said to have threatened to blow up schools, churches, and other buildings, made threats against police officers, and claimed they were going to kill people.

In response to each threat, police deployed resources to investigate who might be behind the threats - only for investigators to discover later that the bogus calls were in reality SWATting attacks.

SWATting is a particularly underhand way of making someone else's day a misery – without having to leave your home. All you have to do is spoof a phone call to police claiming that serious criminal activity (such as someone being taken hostage, or a threat to explode a bomb) is in progress at your intended victims' property.

The next thing you know an armed response SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team has been despatched to descend on an unsuspecting person's home.

It's an extremely dangerous prank to play, that has resulted in deaths in the past - including that of an innocent Kansas man shot by police in 2017 after a hoax call about a supposed hostage situation.

The Hungarian investigation discovered that the attacks grew out of petty arguments on Discord, the popular communication platform wildly popular with online gamers.

After falling out with other users on the platform, the suspects are alleged to have obtained their victims' personal information - such as their names, addresses, and phone numbers.

That private data was exploited in two ways.

Firstly, the details were published online in what is known as "doxing" (with the intention of helping others to harass or intimidate the individual).

Secondly, the phone numbers were spoofed when making threatening calls to police, effectively directing emergency services to their door.

The four accused suspects are:

• A 17-year-old from Bihar County, Romania
• A 16-year-old from Kisvárda, Hungary
• An 18-year-old from Nyíregyháza, Hungary
• A 20-year-old from Budapest, Hungary

The 16-year-old was questioned on suspicion of charges of threatening the safety of the public. He has denied involvement, and remains free pending further investigation.

The Romanian teenager faces more serious charges, including terrorism offences, threatening public danger, multiple counts of false accusation, and misuse of personal data. He also remains presently free while investigations continue.

Meanwhile, the status of the two older adult suspects is still being determined while police continue to examine the seized digital evidence and devices.

Hungarian police are keen to underline that SWATting and doxing are serious criminal offences that endanger lives, and are not harmless pranks.

"The police emphasise that swatting and doxing are serious crimes that endanger the lives of others and are not a joke," reads the press release from the Hungarian police. "The authorities will continue to take decisive action against perpetrators in the future, using international cooperation when necessary."

What might, to an immature mind, seem like a way to "win" an internet argument can result in armed police breaking down an innocent person's door, with unpredictable consequences. But one thing is predicted - if you SWAT someone you could end up with criminal charges that follow you for the rest of your life.