A teenager in New South Wales has been charged after allegedly making hoax emergency calls to the United States, falsely reporting mass shootings at major retail and educational institutions. The practice, known as 'swatting', is designed to trigger an urgent and large-scale emergency response.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the boy on 18 December, accusing him of being part of an alleged decentralised online crime network. Officers seized electronic devices and a prohibited firearm during a search linked to Taskforce Pompilid, established in October 2025.
Graeme Marshall, acting assistant commissioner of the AFP, warned that those believing they can commit crimes using the internet and encrypted identities were mistaken. 'Often young males aged from 11 to 25 are engaging in crime types such as swatting, doxing and hacking to achieve status and notoriety in their online groups,' he said.
The AFP investigation began after intelligence was received from the FBI. Jason Kaplan, assistant director of the FBI's International Operations Division, said the dangerous crime endangered lives and drained critical resources. 'Anonymity online is an illusion,' he stated, emphasising a commitment to working with international partners to hold offenders accountable.
The teenager faces 12 counts of telecommunications offences and one count of unauthorised possession of a prohibited firearm, with a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail. He is scheduled to appear in a NSW children's court.
