Swatting is Becoming an Increasingly Serious Problem

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

If you've never heard of Swatting before, it's a "prank" where hackers use someone's information and call 911 to make threats big enough to get the Swat on issue. Using Magic Jacks, or other devices similar to it, the caller can keep their call from being traced.  Swatting is obviously illegal, as it's not only a waste of police resources, but it can also get innocent people injured or killed. In most recent situations, the calls have been causing streamers on the gaming stream site, twitch.tv, major trouble. 

The Creatures are an extremely popular group of gamers on YouTube. Jordan (Kootra) and Dan (DanzNewz) usually stream on Tuesdays. Today, however, they were the only two at their office, and Kootra was streaming alone. They were swatted and Danz was almost shot.  Just a few days before this incident, another twitch user, under the alias of Whiteboy, was also swatted. In his case, he and his girlfriend were in possession of marijuana and were arrested for that. The people pulling this so-called prank somehow find it funny. How can anyone laugh at something like this? How can you brag about it, even? You have the chances of causing someone's death and you're just gonna nonchalantly claim the blame?

Below is the highlight from when Kootra was unjustly arrested during his stream. He his free now and things have been cleared up, but there is definitely some sort of action that needs to be taken to stop inhumane trickery such as this.

 

[Shulk 8,623]

This crap is why I'm never going to livestream until it's freaking sorted out. Some idiots have a sick, twisted sense of fun.

[Omega Ness 112]

There's been around at least 20 swattings that I know of, I think. 

[Javelin434 3,164]

I want to know what games this is most common on. I have a good feeling on what it is, but just to be sure, I have to ask...

[Omega Ness 112]

I want to know what games this is most common on. I have a good feeling on what it is, but just to be sure, I have to ask...

I-...It GENERALLY is Shooting Games. 

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

I want to know what games this is most common on. I have a good feeling on what it is, but just to be sure, I have to ask...

You're right if you guessed FPS games. Most reports involve someone playing Call of Duty. Though Kootra was playing Counter-Strike and I believe Whiteboy was playing DayZ when he was swatted.

[Javelin434 3,164]

I-...It GENERALLY is Shooting Games. 

 

 

You're right if you guessed FPS games. Most reports involve someone playing Call of Duty. Though Kootra was playing Counter-Strike and I believe Whiteboy was playing DayZ when he was swatted.

That's all I needed to hear...

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

That's all I needed to hear...

Of course, but at this point it's less about the game and more about actually pulling the "prank."

[Oishii 3,987]

I want to know what games this is most common on. I have a good feeling on what it is, but just to be sure, I have to ask...

 

It doesn't matter what games they're playing.  This shouldn't happen to gamers no matter what games they play.  Don't fall into the same trap of people who think all games are evil and corrupt minds.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

It doesn't matter what games they're playing.  This shouldn't happen to gamers no matter what games they play.  Don't fall into the same trap of people who think all games are evil and corrupt minds.

Which again, leave it to the news to cover a story such as this and not something like a child using the money he saved up for a PS4 as charity to help others instead. 

[Exiblade7 1,917]

This is just disturbing to me. Why would people call this a prank? People need to realize that it's JUST a freaking video game. They don't need to call the S.W.A.T team just because they lost a match or something like that. The people who called the S.W.A.T team should get punished because there is no reason why they should call them in the first place. 

[Keyblade Master Xoncron 499]

All swatters must be stopped.

[Think Pink 1,967]

I'd heard about that but I didn't understand what swatting is, so thank you for providing an explanation. This is absolutely awful though. I can't believe someone would think something this dangerous is funny. 

[DragonMaster 1,166]

I freaking hate YouTube comments. All those idiots thinking the SWAT did something wrong here. Seriously, they were responding to what they thought was a serious issue where multiple people's lives were in danger. Freaking idiots complain about the police no matter what they do.

 

I honestly can't say that I can't believe this happens. I'm never surprised about the idiotic, depraved things people do anymore. Pathetic.

[Hero of Winds 2,576]

I freaking hate YouTube comments. All those idiots thinking the SWAT did something wrong here. Seriously, they were responding to what they thought was a serious issue where multiple people's lives were in danger. Freaking idiots complain about the police no matter what they do.

 

I honestly can't say that I can't believe this happens. I'm never surprised about the idiotic, depraved things people do anymore. Pathetic.

I agree on the whole YT comments part, but there was a point before they reached The Creatures Office where they started to realize there wasn't a problem at all. It was mentioned in the police report given on the news in that area of Colorado. Even so, it is their duty to fully solve and apprehend the situation. Most of the comments are on that portion of the issue, but they dun really have an understanding of the entire situation. The caller made bomb threats and stated that he killed co-workers and had others as hostages. How can the SWAT simply drop the idea of it existing, even if nothing seems to be wrong?

[DragonMaster 1,166]

I agree on the whole YT comments part, but there was a point before they reached The Creatures Office where they started to realize there wasn't a problem at all. It was mentioned in the police report given on the news in that area of Colorado. Even so, it is their duty to fully solve and apprehend the situation. Most of the comments are on that portion of the issue, but they dun really have an understanding of the entire situation. The caller made bomb threats and stated that he killed co-workers and had others as hostages. How can the SWAT simply drop the idea of it existing, even if nothing seems to be wrong?

Ah, I didn't know that, thanks. Then yeah, I see maybe where some people might complain, but on the whole I still think the SWAT were doing what they were supposed to do.