The Group Behind the US University Swatting Attacks
▼ Summary
– A self-proclaimed leader of an online group called Purgatory claims responsibility for recent hoax active-shooter alerts at US universities.
– Purgatory offers services like swatting, fake threats, and real-world violence for fees ranging from $10 to $95, with prices recently increasing.
– The group is linked to 764, a nihilistic subgroup of The Com known for extortion, harassment, and crimes against children.
– Around a dozen universities have been targeted since August 21, with the group allegedly earning about $100,000 from these activities.
– The FBI is investigating the increase in swatting incidents, emphasizing that false threats drain resources and endanger innocent people.
A disturbing wave of hoax active shooter alerts has disrupted campuses across the United States as students return for the fall semester. These incidents, known as swatting attacks, are being orchestrated by an online group offering dangerous services for a fee, according to an individual claiming leadership within the organization.
The person, who uses the alias Gores online, states that he co-leads a group called Purgatory, which openly advertises criminal acts through encrypted messaging platforms. For as little as $20, the group arranges fake emergency calls to schools, while false reports targeting hospitals, airports, or businesses can cost up to $50. Even more alarming, the group reportedly offers services described as “slashings” and “brickings” for just $10, terms believed to refer to acts of real-world violence.
In the days following widespread media coverage, the group’s pricing appears to have increased significantly, with school swatting now priced at $95 and brickings at $35. Purgatory has been linked to 764, a nihilistic faction within the broader violent extremist network known as The Com. This subgroup has a documented history of targeting minors through extortion, harassment, doxing, and swatting, with members accused of crimes ranging from robbery and kidnapping to sexual abuse and murder.
Since August 21, approximately a dozen universities have been hit with fraudulent 911 calls, some receiving multiple hoax alerts in a short period. Gores claims the group has earned roughly $100,000 since the spree began, though this figure has not been independently verified.
Researchers monitoring the group’s activities confirm that members have been heard conducting swatting calls via audio livestreams. In at least one instance, a researcher was able to intervene by contacting the targeted institution to warn them the threat was not real.
Recordings of these calls and activity within Purgatory’s Telegram channel show members celebrating media attention, including a swatting attempt targeting the University of Colorado Boulder on Monday. A university spokesperson confirmed the incident remains under investigation, with campus police collaborating with state and federal agencies, including the FBI, to identify connections to other recent cases.
The FBI has acknowledged a nationwide increase in swatting incidents, emphasizing that false reports divert critical law enforcement resources, incur significant costs, and, most importantly, endanger innocent lives. The current wave of attacks began on August 21, coinciding with the creation of Purgatory’s current Telegram channel. That same day, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Villanova University both went into lockdown following fraudulent active shooter reports, disrupting campus activities and causing widespread alarm.
(Source: Wired)
