Doxbin Admin Jailed for Inciting Swatting Attacks
A dark web administrator for the Doxbin platform has been sentenced to over two years in prison for encouraging and facilitating swatting incidents that targeted individuals and organizations across multiple countries.
Callum Dare, a 26-year-old administrator for the dark web platform Doxbin, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for his role in inciting swatting attacks. Doxbin is a platform known for hosting personally identifiable information (PII) and encouraging harassment campaigns against individuals.
While Dare did not personally execute any swatting calls, investigators found he was an active participant in Doxbin's "#deadnet" chat channel. In this channel, he actively encouraged and provided assistance to others who were planning and carrying out swatting attacks. His involvement was uncovered through an investigation that began in May 2019 when the FBI alerted South Wales Police and the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU).
Digital forensics revealed that Dare created montages of footage from internet livestreams and other sources, showcasing the emergency response to swatting incidents. He shared these compilations within the "#deadnet" channel with the explicit intent of motivating other users to commit similar offenses. This demonstrated a clear pattern of behavior aimed at fostering and escalating criminal activity.
The swatting incidents facilitated by Dare's actions led to significant disruption and evacuations in the UK, US, and Canada. One notable incident involved a false bomb threat called into the Los Angeles Police Department, which resulted in the evacuation of a university lecture theater. Another involved a hoax call to a journalist at the Western Mail, claiming a bomb threat at a Cardiff hotel, leading to the evacuation of a major city street.
Dare's downfall began with a swatting attack on a programmer in Canada. Canadian authorities, in collaboration with the FBI, seized Doxbin and "#deadnet" chat logs. These logs identified Dare, under the usernames "Chans" and "KT," as a Doxbin administrator likely based in Wales. This crucial information was then passed to Welsh police, who were able to link the online activity to a PayPal account and subsequently to Dare's identity and residence.
During the investigation, officers also discovered a phishing kit named "The Man in the Onion" on Dare's devices. This kit was designed to mimic dark web marketplaces and harvest user credentials, potentially for accessing cryptocurrency wallets and other sensitive accounts. While there was no evidence Dare used this kit for real-world attacks, its possession constituted a criminal offense.
Dare pleaded guilty to charges of encouraging or assisting the commission of malicious communications and possession of articles for use in frauds. His defense cited mental health difficulties, including ADHD and autism, as contributing factors. Law enforcement officials emphasized that swatting is a dangerous crime with potentially deadly consequences, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in bringing perpetrators to justice.
The sentencing of Callum Dare serves as a stark reminder of the severe repercussions for those who facilitate and encourage cybercrimes, even from behind the anonymity of the dark web. The case underscores the critical role of international law enforcement collaboration in combating transnational cyber threats and protecting public safety.