What is ‘swatting’? Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees are being targeted with dangerous hoaxes

Several of Donald Trump’s cabinet and administration nominees were targeted this week with actions including bomb threats and “swatting,” a transition team spokesperson said Wednesday.

The threats were made Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those targeted, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. Although bomb threats are common, ‘swatting’ is a lesser known phenomenon.

An FBI spokesperson said the bureau is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting new nominees and appointees in the administration and is working with its law enforcement partners.

What is swatting?

Swatting is the act of filing false police reports to provoke a potentially heavy, armed response from officers at someone’s home. Law enforcement experts see it as a form of intimidation or intimidation that is increasingly being used to attack prominent figures.

This often creates a situation where a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrives ready for a potentially violent encounter.

“The individuals engaging in this activity are using technology to give the impression that the emergency call is coming from the victim’s phone,” according to a 2013 FBI public service announcement, titled: “The Crime of ‘Swatting’: Fake 9-1-1 Calls Have Real Consequences – FBI.

“Sometimes the beating is done out of revenge, sometimes as a joke. Whatever the case, it is a serious crime that may have dangerous consequences.”

Most people who engage in swatting are serial offenders who are also involved in other cybercrimes, such as identity theft and credit card fraud, Kolbye said. They either want to brag about their exploits or get revenge on someone who pissed them off online.

Kevin Kolbye, an assistant special agent in charge in our Dallas division, suggests filing a police report on any swatting threats you receive online. Such threats typically come from the online gaming community, where competitors can play and communicate anonymously. If a 9-1-1 incident occurs at your home, the police will be aware that it may be a hoax.

“The FBI takes swatting very seriously,” Kolbye said. “Working closely with industry and law enforcement partners, we continue to refine our technological capabilities and investigative techniques to stop the thoughtless individuals who commit these crimes. The bottom line,” he added, “is that swatting puts innocent people in danger.”

(With input from Reuters)