Hoax siege victims speak out

It is a parent's worst nightmare.

Police surrounding their home after a triple zero call saying 15-year-old son Ryan was being held hostage.

But shockingly, it was all a prank, an example of a new online craze called “swatting”.

It's when a gaming opponent discovers your whereabouts by either hacking your computer's IP address or tricking you into giving away details.

They then call authorities and make a threat.

The more police who attend the scene, the more "points" earned.

It’s often done in petty revenge for losing an online game.

The prank is becoming common in the US.

Victims including gamers and celebrities like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.

Now it's here.

Ryan, who is autistic, is still shaken after discovering the 30 armed police officers, SERT and paramedics at his door.

Cyber specialists are warning users: if you play online games, do so with caution.

Watch the video for the full story.