Introducing . . . U R NEXT!
5/26/20262 min
What if, one day, you suddenly became the target of an “internet terrorist”? Who can find you, no matter where you are, and make your life hell. Logging off? Is not an option. That’s what’s happened to Esther, Natasha and Ava. They all fell into the crosshairs of a dangerous online predator who had one mission; to control, harass and bully women and girls like them out of online gaming. A skilled hacker, he’d extort his victims. But his weapon of choice was swatting – calling in fake emergencies to get armed police to raid people’s homes, terrifying them. He seemed unstoppable, until the young female streamers he targeted joined forces and fought back… and a determined country cop took up the case. Journalist Leigh Alexander investigates a story where digital danger bursts through the screen and into real life, that will leave you wondering if any of us are really safe… Want the full story? Binge every episode of U R NEXT ad-free now by subscribing to The Binge+. You’ll unlock over 60 true crime series instantly, get early access to drops on the first of every month, and hear exclusive bonus episodes. Search for the channel on Apple Podcasts or head to GetTheBinge.com. For behind-the-scenes details, join our free newsletter at Patreon.com/TheBinge. U R NEXT is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and Novel. Follow @sonypodcasts and discover more at sonymusic.com/podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices The Binge — feed your true crime obsession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
[suspenseful music] If he wanted to ruin your life, he really could. We all know the internet has a dark side, but one online predator unleashed hell on his targets.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:12
An internet terrorist. That's the best thing to describe him as.
Speaker 10:16
Nothing would piss him off more than a young female gamer. He'd turn their dream of becoming a big-time streamer into a nightmare.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:25
We get big, bright lights in our face, and we have guns pointed at us.
Speaker 10:30
There is no logging off.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:33
It was unrelenting.
Speaker 10:35
And there's no getting away.
Speaker 3· Soundbite0:37
Eventually, you get a message from this guy. "If you want this to stop, you have to talk to me."
Speaker 10:44
Meanwhile, he's untouchable, running circles around his victims and the cops too.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:52
This is this guy's full-time passion. That's all he wants to do is terrorize young girls.
Speaker 10:57
No one is safe.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:58
He said there's a bomb at Space Mountain.
Speaker 11:01
This guy would call in bomb threats at places like Disneyland just to see children flee for their lives.
Speaker 2· Soundbite1:07
Why cause chaos for no reason?
Speaker 11:09
His targets got bigger, but he never lost his appetite for going after the young women who didn't give him what he wanted.
Speaker 3· Soundbite1:17
"Why? Because I don't wanna be your girlfriend?" It's part of a controlled harassment campaign. Very aggressive and sociopathic.
Speaker 2· Soundbite1:27
I can't believe what I just saw.