Earlier discussions here with 100+ comments about Loeb-based ET mischief include:

"A Harvard Astronomer on the Interstellar Object ‘Oumuamua"

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18923591

and

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21948804

the above on the same 2019 article, but others can be found

etc