Callum Dare, 26, from Talbot Green, has been sentenced for encouraging and assisting swatting, both internationally and within the UK, and the possession of sophisticated phishing software. This follows an extensive investigation by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) for southern Wales, working alongside South Wales Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States.
Swatting is the act of making a false report to emergency services in order to trigger an armed police response to a victim’s address. These malicious reports are often intended to harass, intimidate or cause panic, and the resulting police response is frequently shared online or covered by the media.
In May 2019, South Wales Police and Tarian ROCU were alerted to an FBI investigation involving Dare.
Officers from the FBI’s Nashville Field Office – Memphis Resident Agency, had identified a number of incidents of “swatting” across the United States, which were linked to a website operating on the dark web.
Investigators traced a number of these incidents to a dark web platform known as “Doxbin”, which was connected to an online chat channel called “#deadnet”. Users of the channel communicated directly with one another and discussed swatting, doxing and other forms of criminal activity.
Doxing is the publication of an individual’s personal information, such as their address or contact details, without their consent. This information is often used to facilitate harassment or swatting attacks.
As enquiries progressed, investigators identified Dare as an administrator of “Doxbin”. Evidence showed he was an active participant within the associated chat channel, where he encouraged and assisted others in targeting individuals and organisations through swatting attacks.
Messages recovered from the channel showed Dare claiming responsibility for multiple swatting incidents in the United States and Canada. Investigators also found evidence that he had produced video compilations using footage from livestreams and other online sources showing emergency responses to swatting attacks. These videos were shared within the channel in an attempt to encourage others to carry out similar offences.
The investigation further linked Dare to an earlier swatting incident in southern Wales. On December 17, 2018, a threat was reported to a journalist working for the Western Mail (now Wales Online). The caller falsely claimed to be armed with nail bombs and holding hostages at the Sandringham Hotel in St Marys Street, Cardiff.
The journalist alerted South Wales Police and armed officers were deployed to the scene. As a result, St Marys Street was evacuated and closed, causing significant disruption and public concern during one of the busiest periods of the year.
A forensic examination of Dare’s electronic devices uncovered livestream footage, CCTV recordings, audio files, news reports and other material relating to the hoax incident. Investigators found that these materials had been edited into a compilation video featuring the “Doxbin” logo.
Officers also discovered a compressed file labelled “the man in the onion”, which contained malicious computer code capable of facilitating phishing attacks.
Phishing is a form of online fraud where criminals attempt to deceive individuals into revealing personal, financial or account information through fake websites, emails or messages that appear legitimate.
Investigators found that the “man in the onion” code had been designed to imitate dark web marketplaces and harvest user credentials. Those credentials could then potentially be used to gain access to cryptocurrency wallets and other online accounts.
Rather than stand trial, Dare pleaded guilty to the following offences on June 15, 2026:
- Encouraging / assisting in the commission of eitherway offences believing one / more will be committed.
- Possessing / controlling an article for use in fraud.
The offences are contrary to the provisions of the Serious Crime Act 2007 and the Fraud Act 2006.
At Cardiff Crown Court today, Dare was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.
A spokesperson for Tarian ROCU said: “The consequences of swatting can be extremely serious. False reports place innocent members of the public at risk, cause significant disruption to communities and divert emergency services away from genuine incidents.
“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of international law enforcement partnerships in identifying and prosecuting those who seek to carry out criminal activity online while believing they can remain anonymous.”
Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office said: “Swatting is not a victimless prank—it is a reckless and dangerous crime that can have deadly consequences. This investigation exemplifies the remarkable dedication of the FBI and our international law enforcement partners to pursue and bring to justice those who commit this dangerous crime – no matter where in the world they reside.”
Louisa Robertson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Callum Dare put people in danger by encouraging the triggering of armed police responses, for his own thrills.
“When false alarms like this are raised, it is often multiple emergency services that are involved, drawing them away from people who genuinely need them.
“The international cooperation of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in different jurisdictions allowed the Crown Prosecution Service to build a strong case against Dare, showing how far reaching his criminality was, leaving him little choice but to plead guilty.
“I hope the sentence today deters others from carrying out these criminal acts.”
