Posts

Showing posts with the label swatting

SpotCrime Weekly Reads: Use of force, AI in policing, transparency

Image
Police Chief resignations, DNA data manipulation in Colorado, combatting swatting calls, higher use of force linked to training conference in NJ, addressing mental health in communities, DOJ opens investigation into Boeing, cybercrime losses reach $12.5 billion, violent crime numbers, gun violence, AI and police real time crime centers, police record transparency, reversing criminal justice reform, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Lakes Wales to begin looking for new police chief amid nepotism, transparency concerns: Memo  (Fox13 Tampa Bay) Colorado Bureau of Investigation finds DNA scientist manipulated data in hundreds of cases over decades  (WPSD Local 6) Uvalde police chief announces resignation after report on Robb Elementary School shooting  (NBC News) Georgia bill would impose harsher penalties on more 'swatting' calls  (11Alive) Use of force incidents high among cops who attended controversial police training conference  (New Jersey Monitor) Rats are 'all high' on mar

Swatting: A Dangerous Prank

Image
What is swatting? You've probably seen it in the news recently - famous celebrities in Los Angeles like Chris Brown , Miley Cyrus ,  Justin Bieber , Ashton Kutcher , Simon Cowell , Tom Cruise , and the Kardashians have been targeted. Swatting is when a hacker pretends to be someone by hacking their phone line, cal\lling 911, and reporting a fake emergency to the victim's address - normally a kidnapping/hostages, bombings, shootings, or murders - which requires heavy police presence to respond to the home, sometimes with guns drawn, only to have police show up to find that the call was a hoax. It seems to be an evolution of ' phreakers ' who gained notice in the 1970s when they would hack into phone companies computers and make free long-distance calls. These calls are very dangerous because they are similar to calls departments receive about real shootings  or murders. The police show up ready for a crazy person, possibly armed, only to find innocent victims. B