Summary
The FBI is investigating a rise in swatting hoaxes at U.S. universities, which are fake emergency calls that lead to police responses. Several universities have experienced these incidents as students return for a new semester. The FBI asks the public to report suspicious activities to help address the issue.
Key Facts
- Swatting involves making prank emergency calls to dispatch police to a location.
- Nearly a dozen U.S. universities have been affected by these hoaxes recently.
- The FBI has started a 2023 database to track such incidents.
- Swatting can drain police resources and endanger innocent people.
- The FBI acknowledges an increase in swatting events nationwide.
- Villanova University faced two hoax threats in just four days.
- The FBI is working with local police to handle the situation.
- Swatting incidents have led to accidental shootings and fatalities in the past.
