swatting
Fake hostage calls
Swatting is making a false emergency report—typically claiming an armed threat or hostage situation—to send police tactical units to an unsuspecting person's address.
The term comes from SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams.
Originally targeting online gamers during livestreams, swatting has expanded to harass politicians, journalists, and others.
It's a federal crime that has resulted in deaths: He was arrested for swatting a rival streamer.
Open-handed blow
- smackStrike with open hand
- whackForceful striking blow
- thwackSharp striking sound
- batFlying mammal or sports club
strike · newspaper · palm · backhand · flick · brush · shoo · wave
Playful trick on someone
- false reportUntruthful communicated information
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- 911Crisis response number
- emergency responseOrganized action during crises
police · streaming · gamer · doxxing · caller · anonymous · criminal · dangerous
slap
Open-handed blow
bat · strike · newspaper · palm · backhand · flick · brush · shoo · wave · mosquito
prank
Playful trick on someone
- false reportUntruthful communicated information
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- 911Crisis response number
emergency response · police · streaming · gamer · doxxing · caller · anonymous · criminal · dangerous · fake
- cat playpouncing, chasing, stalking, batting, jumping
- cyber conflictstrolling, cyberbullying, flame war, online harassment, doxing
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
- Online Scandalscancel culture, doxxing, cyberbullying, online harassment, viral outrage
- beatingsbeating, thrashing, pummeling, pounding, battering
- corporal punishmentflogging, whipping, caning, lashing, beating
swattingcivic duty
Obligation owed to community
whistleblowing · crime reporting · neighborhood watch · community policing
swattingprotecting
Keeping from harm
helping · safeguarding · warning · defending · shielding
swat, swatted, swats, swatter, flyswatter, swatters, flyswatters