Panic spread among University of South Carolina students after receiving an active shooter alert, prompting police to rush to the library.
On Sunday, the university received two separate calls reporting gunfire.
These reports were false, part of a surge in “swatting” hoaxes targeting U.S. universities as students returned for fall classes.
Similar false alarms affected Villanova University and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga last week, with at least seven more schools targeted on Monday, according to campus alerts and official statements.
West Virginia University dealt with another hoax on Tuesday morning.
Experts caution that swatting—falsely reporting emergencies to provoke police action—traumatizes students, drains security resources, and risks making Americans desensitized to alerts in a nation where mass shootings are a real concern.
“It plays on our fears because real tragedies happen,” said former police chief John DeCarlo, now a criminal justice professor at the University of New Haven.
“A single call can trigger lockdowns, mobilize forces, close buildings, and attract media attention.”
The FBI informed AFP of the recent targeting of colleges, noting an “increase in swatting events nationwide.”
Since establishing a swatting incident database in 2023, the agency has recorded thousands of reports, emphasizing that swatting “wastes law enforcement resources, incurs significant costs, and, most importantly, endangers innocent lives.”
– Ongoing Issue –
At the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, ten agencies responded, clearing buildings before confirming no threat.
Two University of South Carolina students sustained minor injuries during the library evacuation.
A third student was mistakenly identified as a gunman after social media and Congresswoman Nancy Mace shared footage of him with an umbrella resembling a firearm.
Originating in gamer and hacker circles, swatting has targeted judges, election officials, and lawmakers recently.
Schools are “particularly susceptible” due to their high visibility and large student bodies, DeCarlo explained.
Cybercrime expert Keven Hendricks told AFP that offenders often have links to extremist groups, are usually young, and act boldly when not apprehended.
“Many swatters do it simply because they can.”
Experts urge for tougher laws and investment in technologies to trace calls from those who mask their identities.
“It’s essentially a form of domestic terrorism that’s easy to commit because we lack effective investigation and prosecution capabilities,” DeCarlo stated.
“It seems to be escalating uncontrollably.”
