Pranks used to be harmless.
The target might receive an annoying phone call or have to clean up toilet paper from his yard.
But in recent years, some gamers have been getting their kicks out of something called "swatting" -- a dangerous prank/crime that could have serious consequences.
Basically, the hacker obtains the victim's personal information and tricks police departments into deploying their SWAT units to the unsuspecting gamer's home. The hacker leads police to believe some violent crime is imminent.
"The individuals who engage in this activity use technology to make it appear that the emergency call is coming from the victim's phone," FBI.gov explains. "Sometimes swatting is done for revenge, sometimes as a prank. Either way, it is a serious crime, and one that has potentially dangerous consequences."
Blytheville had its first taste of swatting last week. Police rushed to the 5000 block of Hemlock, after receiving a hoax call of a juvenile claiming he had just killed his father and he had his mother tied up to be murdered next.
Apparently, a juvenile resident had gotten into an argument with someone over a video game and the hacker retaliated with the swatting incident.
Police surrounded the home, but fortunately no one was injured.
They could have been.
What if, in haste to respond, an officer wrecked his patrol unit? What if someone robbed a local business while the BPD had resources tied up at a false alarm?
I wonder how the hacker would feel if the stunned juvenile had unintentionally reacted in a way that led to shots being fired. Someone could lose his life over a prank.
Not to mention, taxpayer money is wasted over some ridiculous vendetta.
Anyone caught swatting should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, in my opinion. Police don't consider it a joking matter, nor should they.
According to its website, the FBI certainly takes these incidents seriously.
"The FBI looks at these crimes as a public safety issue," said Kevin Kolbye, an assistant special agent in charge in the Dallas Division of the FBI. "It's only a matter of time before somebody gets seriously injured as a result of one of these incidents."
On the website, Kolbye said working closely with law enforcement partners, the FBI continues to "refine our technological capabilities and our investigative techniques to stop the thoughtless individuals who commit these crimes."
"The bottom line," he added, "is that swatting puts innocent people at risk."
Capt. Scott Adams, the Criminal Investigations Division commander of the Blytheville Police Department, recommends never giving out any personal information online or over the phone.
Gamers should be especially careful given the new, dangerous fad of swatting.
Hopefully, last Thursday's incident will be the only hoax involving local police.
The next one might end in more than hurt feelings. Someone could end up in the hospital or the grave.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com