Preventing Swatting Before It Becomes a Crisis
In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in swatting incidents targeting conservative journalists and influencers. This is a dangerous trend—one that puts lives at risk and could easily spiral into a broader crisis if left unchecked.
The real danger isn’t just the immediate threat to individuals being targeted. If this pattern continues, it won’t take long before malicious actors start using it as a false flag tactic, setting up retaliatory swattings to further divide the public.
Fortunately, there’s a simple, effective way to stop this before it escalates: Law enforcement agencies must implement enhanced verification protocols before deploying SWAT teams to high-risk public figures.
The Problem | Swatting as a Tool for Psychological and Physical Warfare
Swatting—making a false emergency call to trigger a heavily armed police response—has long been used by internet trolls and cybercriminals. But what we’re seeing now is different: A targeted pattern of swattings against conservative figures is emerging.
The potential for false flag operations is high—malicious actors could start swatting liberal figures to create chaos and provoke retaliation. Law enforcement response is by nature reactive, not proactive, making it easy for malicious actors to exploit institutional response times. This is not criticism of law enforcement. Instead, it’s a statement of the reality of time constraints, staffing, and the rise in technology that enables malicious actors to conduct these operations without detection.
Swatting is a form of hybrid warfare—weaponizing law enforcement responses to create fear, division, and real-world consequences.
The Solution | A Nonpartisan Preemptive Strategy for Law Enforcement
To prevent this from escalating into a full-blown crisis, law enforcement agencies—especially SWAT teams and 911 dispatch centers—should immediately implement the following protocols:
Create a Watchlist of High-Risk Targets
- Maintain an internal list of public figures at risk of being swatted (journalists, influencers, politicians, business leaders, etc.).
- If a call comes in about one of these individuals, apply extra layers of verification before dispatching SWAT.
Implement Two-Step Verification for Swatting Scenarios
- Attempt direct contact with the individual before deploying SWAT.
- Contact a designated emergency contact (such as a family member or security personnel) to confirm the situation.
- Require additional confirmation before engaging in high-risk tactical responses.
Improve Caller Identification and Digital Forensics
- Invest in real-time analysis of emergency calls to flag spoofed numbers or high-risk patterns.
- Partner with federal cybercrime units to track and analyze swatting attempts at scale.
Public Awareness and Official Statements
- Issue public warnings about the rise in swatting attempts and the steps law enforcement is taking to counter them.
- Inform influencers and journalists of these risks and provide them with law enforcement contacts for verification.
Monitor for False Flag Operations
- Watch for signs of patterned escalation—such as retaliatory swattings that appear politically motivated.
- Ensure law enforcement responses remain strictly nonpartisan, preventing bad actors from manipulating narratives.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just a problem for one side of the political spectrum—it’s a threat to everyone. If law enforcement agencies implement some of these countermeasures, they can prevent swatting from becoming the next manufactured crisis in the news cycle.
Implementing these countermeasures prevents chaos, political manipulation, and a scenario where law enforcement itself is inadvertently turned into a weapon against the public.
The solution is simple: Verify first, deploy second.
Call to Action
If you work in law enforcement, cybercrime, or public safety, push for these measures before we see a major tragedy unfold.
If you’re an influencer, journalist, or public figure, talk to your local police department now to ensure they have protocols in place.
And if you’re watching this play out from the sidelines, pay attention—because what happens next will depend on how quickly these measures are adopted.
Tactical Two-Step Verification for Swatting Calls
DISPATCH LEVEL: PRELIMINARY THREAT VALIDATION
Before SWAT is deployed, 911 dispatch should apply enhanced threat validation using:
ANI/ALI Data (Automatic Number Identification / Automatic Location Identification)
- Verify if the caller’s number and location match the emergency claim
If the call is from a VOIP service, VPN, or masked number, flag for high suspicion
If possible, trace previous calls from the same number/IP to check for past false reports
Reverse Callback to the Caller - Call the number back and ask for additional details
If the call drops or they refuse, flag for secondary verification
Query Known Threat Databases - Check local police records for past incidents at the given address
If the location has been swatted before, immediate supervisory review required
If the call is high-risk but suspicious, dispatch notifies a supervisor and moves to Step 2 instead of sending SWAT immediately.
FIELD LEVEL | OFFICER CONFIRMATION BEFORE SWAT DEPLOYMENT
Once the call passes initial validation, responding officers use two rapid confirmation steps before escalating to SWAT entry:
Step A: Direct Contact Attempt with the Resident
Dispatch attempts to call or text the resident (if they have prior records or public contact information)
If available, use a known emergency contact (family member, security team, building manager, etc.)
Step B: Visual Recon & Tactical Pause
Instead of immediate forced entry, first establish visual confirmation:
- Check for signs of distress from outside
- Use vehicle loudspeakers or drones for communication if necessary
- If no immediate threat is visible, attempt non-forceful communication first
- If there are clear indicators of a real emergency (visible gunmen, screams, smoke/fire, shots fired), they proceed with immediate intervention. But if no clear threat is observed, the operation pauses for further confirmation.
Additional Support Measures
- Pre-Registered Emergency Contacts for High-Risk Individuals
- Influencers, journalists, and politicians should be allowed to register an emergency contact with local police (family, manager, security team)
- If swatting occurs, dispatch calls the contact for confirmation before deployment
Real-Time Cybercrime Support for Dispatch - Implement fast-tracked digital forensics when a swatting call is suspected
Partner with FBI cybercrime units for real-time traceback of spoofed calls - Use AI flagging in dispatch centers to recognize common swatting patterns
If a call matches known swatting tactics, it gets flagged for extra verification
Why This Works
- Maintains Fast Response – No delays if a real emergency is confirmed
- Prevents False Flag Attacks – Stops the cycle before retaliation escalates
- Uses Existing Systems – No need for major new infrastructure, just procedural updates
This approach buys officers a few extra seconds to make the right call without putting lives at risk.
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