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'Swatting' Puts Police, Public at Risk

Latest telephone scam involves bogus 'emergencies'

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com

February 7, 2008

• Read More Scam Alerts ...

Here's a new -- and dangerous -- twist to an old telephone scam.

A new breed of techno-savvy criminals are faking emergencies just to draw attention to themselves.

And their scheme is putting police officers, emergency responders, and innocent victims in potentially risky situations.

Federal authorities this week warned consumers about the ploy, which they call "swatting."

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), con artists behind this ruse dial 9-1-1 and fake an emergency to draw a response from police – usually a SWAT team.

The callers often claim hostages are about to be executed or a bomb is going to explode.

"The community is placed in danger as responders rush to the scene, taking them away from real emergencies," the FBI said in a press release. "And the officers are placed in danger as unsuspecting residents may try to defend themselves.

"Needless to say, these calls are dangerous to first responders and to the victims."

California authorities last year charged a 19-year-old Washington state man who pretended he was calling from the home of a married couple -- and claimed he had just shot and murdered someone.

A local SWAT team responded to the couple's home. The husband heard something and went outside to investigate. But first, he stopped in the kitchen to pick up a knife.

When the husband stepped outside, he found several SWAT assault rifles aimed directly at him.

Police said it's lucky no one was injured -- especially the husband, his wife, or their two young children.

FBI officials compare these "swatters" to the "phone phreakers" of the 1970's -- a small group of techie troublemakers who hacked into phone companies' computers and made free long-distance calls.

But today's "swatters" run more sophisticated schemes.

Consider this major "swatting" case FBI officials in Dallas investigated:

• Five swatters in several states targeted people using online telephone party chat lines (or their family or friends);

• The swatters found personal information about the victims by accessing phone company records stored on protected computers;

• By manipulating computer and phone equipment, the swatters called 9-1-1 operators around the country. Using "spoofing" technology, they made it look like the victims had placed the calls;

• Between 2002 and 2006, the swatters called 9-1-1 lines in more than 60 cities nationwide. They left a trail of more than 100 victims, disrupted service for several telephone companies and emergency responders, and caused nearly $250,000 in losses.

Authorities said the "swatters" made bomb threats at sporting events, which caused events to be delayed. They also claimed that hotel visitors were armed and dangerous – action that forced police to evacuate the buildings.

In addition, the swatters made threats against public parks and officials.

All five defendants pleaded guilty to various charges and are will be sentenced in 2008, FBI officials said.

Why?

But why did the swatters run this scheme?

"For the bragging rights and ego, versus any monetary gain," said Kevin Kolbye, assistant special agent in charge of the bureau's Dallas office.

Authorities say anyone victimized by this "swatting" scheme should contact their local FBI office.

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