In an alarming incident on Monday, the White House was swarmed by emergency first responders following a distressing 911 call. The caller falsely reported a fire in the residence and claimed that victims were trapped inside. This appears to be a case of “swatting,” a malicious prank where an individual uses an untraceable number to cause chaos by making threats of violence or false claims of disaster.
The call was received by the Washington, D.C. area 911 center around 7:00 a.m. Joe Biden, however, was at Camp David at the time and was not present in the White House. By 7:15 a.m., after 13 units had responded to the site, the “all clear” was given.
Upon tracing back the call, the respondents at the 911 center discovered that the number had been “spoofed.” This term refers to a tactic wherein the phone number of an unsuspecting victim is used to mask the identity of the swatting caller. When contacted, the person associated with the spoofed number denied having made the call.
Swatting incidents have been on the rise, particularly during the holiday season. Notable victims include Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Biden Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, and Democrat mega-donor George Soros. The repercussions of such pranks can be severe. In 2017, a dispute between online gamers led to a swatting incident that resulted in the death of an innocent victim, killed by responding SWAT agents. The instigator of the prank was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Office, and other domestic law enforcement organizations attribute the recent increase in swatting incidents to the heightened tension of an election year. U.S. District Judge Arthur Engoron, who is presiding over former President Donald Trump’s New York real estate trial, was also a victim of swatting. In response to these threats, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has urged public figures to remain vigilant.
These incidents underscore the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures and stringent law enforcement to deter such actions and ensure the safety of public figures and institutions. As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics employed by those wishing to cause harm or disruption, making it imperative to stay one step ahead in the fight against such threats.