"Swatting" began as a prank on celebrities.  Now, gamers are doing it to their competitors!

It started out with fake 911 calls reporting stuff like "shots fired" or home invasions to get S.W.A.T. teams to a celebrities home.  Then, they'd get their giggles watching the celeb get a rude surprise.

Now on line gamers are doing this to their competitors.  They disguise their phone numbers and, according to USA Today, use some pretty wild scenarios to get S.W.A.T. teams rolling.

  • Colorado; man said he shot his co-workers and had hostages.
  • Florida; lady said her father was drunk, wielding a machine gun and threatening the family.
  • New York; guy claimed he killed his mother and threatened to shoot first responders.
On line gamers using fake 911 calls to prank other gamers
Photo Illustration by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images
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When the boys arrive, all they find is someone sitting at a computer playing a game while others watch the "raid" happen live.  Voila, instant COPS episode.

WTF?  How important is winning a freakin' game?

Before you try this against your gaming enemies remember; making false 911 calls can get you fined and/or locked up!

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