In the movies, when a multi-billion dollar company seeks to destroy a rival, they hire some sort of intimidating "fixer" played by Liam Nielson who hacks their bank accounts to destroy their finacnes, frames them for crimes they didn't commit and murders their pets.
In real life, apparently, a team of six people basically come up with a bunch of ideas that wouldn't be out of place in a prank war between rival college fraternities that's gone a little too far.
sending pornography to thier neighbours with their names on it is one (very small) step above swatting them, IMO.
If there's any justice (1) people will do time and (2) they will win a huge civil suit against eBay. At least the latter is likely if not the former...
Unsolicited porn is mildly embarrassing at best. SWATting almost always results in _at least_ weeks, months or a lifetime of PTSD thereafter, bodily injuries from the force of being physically restrained even if not resisting, and significant property damage running into the thousands of dollars. If you have any dogs that will try to protect their family, the police do not have protocols for containing them, they simply shoot them. SWAT missions can also end in the deaths of suspects due to over-zealous officers or poor communication in the heat of the moment.
I know which one I would take if given the choice.
I understand what you are both saying. Think it kinda depends on your part of the world too. My home couldn't be deeper into the US Bible Belt. If my family were harassed by a company like this, we would become outcasts very very quickly. Yeah, I'd rather take this over an actual SWAT, but both would have severe and long term consequences.
It is still pretty damn bad, sexual harassment and libel but miles away from SWATing. That is essentially attempted murder and a credible attempt to try to inflict permanent mental damage.
The fact that the police are so trigger happy and bad at assessing the scene for consistency to be a more reliable and safer option than trying to hire a hitman has long been an obvious sign of police reform being desperately needed for years.
In real life, apparently, a team of six people basically come up with a bunch of ideas that wouldn't be out of place in a prank war between rival college fraternities that's gone a little too far.