America’s cruel new prank: Why shooter hoaxes and swatting are a growing threat to campus safety

A disturbing rise in swatting and active-shooter hoaxes is terrorizing US college campuses, from Arkansas to Villanova. False calls with staged gunfire trigger lockdowns, traumatize students, and strain law enforcement. Experts warn these pranks risk desensitizing communities to real threats, while technology loopholes make perpetrators hard to trace. The FBI is investigating possible nationwide coordination.