The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning to students and the public following a surge in swatting hoaxes targeting universities across the United States. Recent incidents have caused panic and lockdowns at institutions such as Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, with students describing chaotic evacuations and heavy police presence. The wave of false reports has also affected campuses in Iowa, Arkansas, Arizona, South Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Kansas.

Swatting hoaxes, which involve false emergency calls prompting armed police responses, have serious consequences, including draining law enforcement resources and endangering innocent lives. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has tracked thousands of such incidents through a dedicated database and is working with local agencies to address the growing problem. Several individuals have faced jail time for their involvement in these hoaxes, highlighting the legal risks and severe outcomes associated with such actions.