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Fortnite World Champion Bugha victim of swatting attempt

Fortnite World Champion Bugha victim of swatting attempt

Sixteen-year-old Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf was streaming live as armed police turned up at his home.

Fortnite World Champion Bugha victim of swatting attempt

Despite half going to the taxman, earning $3 million in one afternoon makes people envious. The young Fortnite World Champion saw that first-hand as he suffered a swatting attempt yesterday.

For those who are unfamiliar with the practice, "swatting" consists of sending the police to a streamer's home, making them believe a crime is under way. This "joke" is anything but safe, as swatting has already claimed innocent victims. In recent years, lawmakers have become aware of the problem and have begun to apply severe penalties. In 2017, a Kansas resident was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a swatting caused the death of an individual.

In Bugha's case, the situation was resolved quickly — one of the officers recognized the young player and immediately understood what was happening.

During his live stream, viewers saw almost nothing. They were only able to hear Bugha's father entering the room to warn him that the police were there. The player abandoned his keyboard for a few minutes, then came back to explain the incident.

Clémence LEMOAL
Clémence "Idril" Lemoal

La Anton Ego du jeu vidéo.