swatting
/ˈswɒtɪŋ/noun [mass noun] US informal
The action or practice of making a hoax call to the emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address: he found out that he was a victim of swatting after police surrounded his home on Thursday [as modifier]: the officers realized they had been sent to the house as part of a swatting prank...
- Likely it was a random act committed by someone who thinks the practice of swatting is funny.
- She inoculated herself from that happening by letting police know well in advance that she might become a target of swatting.
- The target of that swatting attempt was one of the suspect's teachers, according to police.
Origin
Early 21st century: with reference to the possibility that a SWAT team will be dispatched.
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