SWATTING

                                        Swatting

Making prank calls that sound violent that provokes a SWAT team response.

     August 5, 2011, A woman in the community of  Willow Springs  was reporting that four burglars had broken into her home. Two were carrying guns.  When police arrived they learned the call was a dangerous prank.  Police say the call are difficult to trace.   Dispatchers much treat each call as though it was a real call.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/swatting-hackers-prank-calls-authorities-provoke-swat-team/story?id=14312879 

Swatters had hacked into a 15yr old boy’s  X-Box account and used the console's Internet connection to send a message to authorities that he had been stabbed and his parents  was being held hostage.  The SWAT team had stormed his home and had guns drawn.

The FBI says that hackers are usually young people that work alone or in groups and are usually responsible for multiple swatting incidents.

Between 2002 and 2006 the FBI said it has arrested five SWATTERS who called 911 in over 60 cities around the nation that resulted in up to $250,000 in losses.

Swatting causes a disruption of services for telecommunications providers and emergency responders.

A Swatters will report that a bomb is about to go off or that hostages  are being executed. The responding officers, community and responders, are all placed in danger.

If you were the victim of a SWAT team storming into your home, how would you react?  Would your first instincts tell you to defend yourself or would you have the presence of mind to adhere to the SWAT responder’s commands, possibly saving you and your family’s life.