In brief
A wave of hoax calls about armed gunmen has struck around 50 college campuses, forcing students to take cover and authorities to investigate potential threats. While the FBI is looking into these swatting incidents, no arrests have been made. Experts highlight the increasing prevalence of swatting, noting its roots in online gaming disputes that have evolved into serious issues linked to extremist groups. Dispatchers are urged to recognize clues that could indicate a hoax, as fake threats could lead to desensitization among students exposed to frequent alerts.
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — In recent weeks, approximately 50 college campuses across the United States have been inundated with hoax calls reporting armed gunmen and other forms of violence. These incidents highlight the significant challenges faced in differentiating between real threats and fake alarms to mitigate public panic.
Students at several institutions spent hours sheltering under desks, only to later learn that it was a prank. The situation grew more tense when several historically Black colleges were placed on lockdown or had classes canceled after receiving urgent threats, especially following the recent shooting involving conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college.
Despite some universities identifying the false reports early, the necessary response still required considerable time and resources. The FBI is currently investigating the spate of hoax calls, but no arrests have been reported.
Dispatch call centers have become crucial in addressing swatting incidents, especially in a context rife with mass shootings, such as the recent event at a Denver high school that resulted in fatalities.
Wendy Via, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, emphasized, “We have so many mass shootings in this country and so many young people die,” urging that these hoaxes shouldn't be dismissed lightly.
Understanding the Rise of Swatting Calls
Swatting, mainly defined as a tactic to induce a SWAT team response to a bogus emergency, finds its origins in fake bomb threats from decades ago. Initially stemming from online gaming disputes, they have increasingly been associated with extremist networks that coordinate these calls using obscure online forums.
The FBI reports a surge in swatting calls, with hundreds of law enforcement agencies submitting thousands of related incidents since establishing a dedicated center in 2023.
Recognizing this concern, the U.S. Department of Education has released guidance to help identify hoax calls. Indicators often include unable-to-answer follow-up questions from callers about their location or mispronunciation of names.
Purgatory Group Linked to Recent Hoaxes
Reports suggest that a group named Purgatory, associated with The Com—an informal network of online threat actors—has been implicated in some recent hoaxes, as noted by tracking organizations. The FBI, however, has not commented on these associations.
Live stream footage capturing two hours of a prank call revealed the caller's friends laughing and joking in the background, calling into question the seriousness of the distressing claims.
Keven Hendricks, a cyber crime expert, expressed frustration, stating, “We want there to be a reason they were doing it,” only to conclude that it was simply for amusement.
How to Spot a Swatting Attempt
A recent swat call targeting Kansas State University serves as a notable example of how to identify a potential hoax. Major Daryl Ascher from the Riley County Police Department noted that the initial red flag was the fact it wasn’t made through a 911 emergency line, coupled with inaccuracies in the university’s name.
“You’re not going to look it up if you are in an emergency,” said Don Beeler of TDR Technology Solutions, which tracks swatting calls.
For example, this week’s incident included a suspect description that mirrored earlier calls made to multiple universities, igniting chaos and further muddying the waters between genuine and false alarms. Dispatchers are left grappling with the stress of differentiating between real threats and malevolent pranksters.
Students echoed their concerns regarding desensitization toward such threats, with many hoping that these hoaxes don’t lead to complacency over the increasing number of alerts. “I hope we’re not desensitized to the point where we don’t take these alerts seriously anymore,” remarked Miceala Morano, a senior at the University of Arkansas.
