Man Jailed for Encouraging Hoax 999 Calls Leading to Armed Police Responses
Callum Dare, 26, from Talbot Green in Rhondda Cynon Taf, was sentenced after being identified by the FBI for encouraging others to make false emergency calls, known as "swatting," which resulted in armed police deployments.
Dare was arrested in October 2019 following an investigation that traced his activities in international online chat rooms, particularly within hidden areas of the internet often referred to as the dark web.
One notable incident involved a hoax call to the Los Angeles Police Department, while another targeted a journalist in Cardiff with a false bomb threat at a local hotel.
This case marks the first conviction for swatting in Wales, a term derived from the US practice where such false reports prompt the deployment of SWAT teams.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced Dare to two years and three months in prison.
Among the incidents, Dare made a false report to Los Angeles police claiming bombs were placed under chairs at the University of California, which led to an evacuation of the campus.
Another fabricated call was made to Cardiff journalist Will Hayward, falsely stating that nail bombs had been planted and hostages taken at the Sandringham Hotel in Cardiff city centre. This caused police to cordon off the area.
Investigation Reveals Sophisticated Phishing Fraud
Upon arrest, police seized Dare’s electronic devices and discovered files linked to an advanced phishing scheme. These files were designed to harvest personal and payment information from dark web users for fraudulent purposes.
The dark web is a concealed segment of the internet that requires specialized software to access and uses encrypted networks to mask user identities.
Dare admitted to administering a website and participating in online chat groups that encouraged or facilitated malicious communications and bomb hoaxes.
He also confessed to possessing phishing software intended to obtain login credentials for dark web sites and to monitor cryptocurrency accounts on these platforms, fully aware that the software was designed or adapted for use in connection with fraud.
Dare will serve 40% of his sentence in custody, with the remainder served in the community under licence.
Judicial Remarks and Law Enforcement Statements
Judge Lloyd-Clarke stated she was convinced that Dare intended for others to carry out swatting offences in the United States, a country where both police officers and civilians commonly carry firearms.
A spokesperson for Tarian, the regional organised crime unit for South Wales, highlighted the serious nature of swatting:
"False reports place innocent members of the public at risk, cause significant disruption to communities and divert emergency services away from genuine incidents."
The FBI Nashville Field Office emphasized the dangers of swatting, describing it as:
"Not a victimless prank but a reckless and dangerous crime that can have deadly consequences."
Louisa Robertson, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, commented on Dare’s actions:
"Callum Dare put people in danger by encouraging the triggering of armed police responses, for his own thrills."
