Swatting reports are increasing. Why are perpetrators making fake calls to the police?

Swatting reports are increasing. Why are perpetrators making fake calls to the police?

By USA TODAY / Wondery

Swatting is when someone makes a false report to emergency services to trigger an armed police response to an unsuspecting victim. It is a hoax that is dangerous, illegal and pervasive. Even members of Congress have fallen prey to swatting. Earlier this year, a 17-year-old from California was extradited to Florida after allegedly orchestrating a swatting call on a Florida mosque and may be behind hundreds of swatting calls. Lauren Shapiro, author of "Cyberpredators and Their Prey" and a professor at John Jay College School of Criminal Justice, joins The Excerpt to discuss the risks involved with swatting.


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