So-called "swapping" - false calls to the police in order to provoke a tough response against an innocent person-is taking on an alarming scale in the United States. Dangerous practical jokes have already led to tragedies, even fatal ones. But the arrest of a 17-year-old under the pseudonym Torswats, who made hundreds of such calls, may put an end to this barbaric practice.
Imagine sitting at home with your family, watching a movie or reading your favorite book. Suddenly, your house is surrounded by police cars, and a SWAT team in bulletproof vests is already rushing to the doorstep, pointing machine guns at the windows. You freeze in shock, and then stun grenades fly into the rooms.
All because of the fact that you annoyed someone on the Internet.
Torswats was arrested in January in California on charges of making hundreds of similar calls. According to official data, the targets of his actions were mosques, courts and other large objects. The calls included false reports of bombs being planted and gunfire being fired.
The detainee had previously boasted that he would not be caught, but the punishment could not be avoided. But soon after his arrest, his Telegram account resumed activity. Someone else took the "reins of power" in their own hands. "It seems that for a few dollars a month you can do crazy things and get away with it," writes this unknown user in a separate channel.
The number of such calls has increased dramatically recently. On Christmas Day alone, many politicians and justice officials connected to the Trump case were targeted. Since May of last year, the FBI has maintained a database of such calls — then 129 cases were recorded.
In the US, "swapping" can lead to jail time. Some of the detainees received 11 years, others — less than 10. However, there are no clear and unambiguous laws yet. Senator Rick Scott proposed to increase the term to 20 years, but for this type of crime, so far no one has given a clear definition. Usually, the actions of intruders are classified under separate articles — a false call, terrorism, harassment, etc.
The first death due to such a draw occurred in 2017 in California. The culprit received a record sentence of 20 years in prison. There were several such cases. Once on the house, where the signal about the hostage-taking allegedly came from, special forces soldiers attacked. An elderly woman who was in the house died of a heart attack .
In Russia, such practices have not yet spread, but in many Western countries there is now a real epidemic of false calls to law enforcement agencies. As long as the courts do not develop clear practices and legislators do not develop strict norms, dangerous practical jokes that threaten people's lives will continue.
Imagine sitting at home with your family, watching a movie or reading your favorite book. Suddenly, your house is surrounded by police cars, and a SWAT team in bulletproof vests is already rushing to the doorstep, pointing machine guns at the windows. You freeze in shock, and then stun grenades fly into the rooms.
All because of the fact that you annoyed someone on the Internet.
Torswats was arrested in January in California on charges of making hundreds of similar calls. According to official data, the targets of his actions were mosques, courts and other large objects. The calls included false reports of bombs being planted and gunfire being fired.
The detainee had previously boasted that he would not be caught, but the punishment could not be avoided. But soon after his arrest, his Telegram account resumed activity. Someone else took the "reins of power" in their own hands. "It seems that for a few dollars a month you can do crazy things and get away with it," writes this unknown user in a separate channel.
The number of such calls has increased dramatically recently. On Christmas Day alone, many politicians and justice officials connected to the Trump case were targeted. Since May of last year, the FBI has maintained a database of such calls — then 129 cases were recorded.
In the US, "swapping" can lead to jail time. Some of the detainees received 11 years, others — less than 10. However, there are no clear and unambiguous laws yet. Senator Rick Scott proposed to increase the term to 20 years, but for this type of crime, so far no one has given a clear definition. Usually, the actions of intruders are classified under separate articles — a false call, terrorism, harassment, etc.
The first death due to such a draw occurred in 2017 in California. The culprit received a record sentence of 20 years in prison. There were several such cases. Once on the house, where the signal about the hostage-taking allegedly came from, special forces soldiers attacked. An elderly woman who was in the house died of a heart attack .
In Russia, such practices have not yet spread, but in many Western countries there is now a real epidemic of false calls to law enforcement agencies. As long as the courts do not develop clear practices and legislators do not develop strict norms, dangerous practical jokes that threaten people's lives will continue.
