From: InfoSec News (alertsinfosecnews.org)
Date: Tue Sep 02 2008 - 02:27:25 CDT

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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-swating_31met.ART0.West.Edition1.4ddc7cf.html

By JASON TRAHAN
The Dallas Morning News
August 31, 2008

Two years ago, Matthew Weigman and his mother sat down with an FBI
agent, and he was offered a second chance.

The 16-year-old had a reputation in hacker circles as one of the best
around. His specialty was the phone system, and he was known for conning
telecom employees into believing he was a colleague to gain access to
unlisted numbers, the ability to shut off a rival's service or listen in
on others' calls.

But the FBI agent who flew to his East Boston home offered him a deal.
The blind teenager's name had surfaced in a nationwide investigation of
a group of "SWATers" – people who manipulate the phone system to get
police sent to fake hostage standoffs.

Dallas and Fort Worth were among the five dozen cities affected. In some
cities, people were injured when police stormed their homes thinking a
hostage situation existed.

Mr. Weigman was too young to be charged, so the agent made him an
informant.

But, authorities say, he blew it.

[...]

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