What to do if…
you receive a threat that someone will send police or emergency services to your address as a prank

What to do now

1. Stabilize the scene at home. Lock doors, move away from windows, put pets in a separate room if you can do that calmly, and keep your phone charged and on loud.
2. Preserve the threat evidence. Screenshot the threat with usernames or handles and timestamps visible. Save voicemails. Write down any phone numbers, email addresses, platform profiles, and exact words used.
3. Call your local police or sheriff non-emergency line and say plainly:
   • “I received a threat that someone will make a fake emergency report to send police or EMS to my address.”
   • “This may be a swatting threat.”
   • Give your full address, apartment or unit number, name, and best callback number.
   • Tell them any claims the hoax caller might make, such as a false active shooter, hostage, welfare check, fire, or medical emergency claim.
4. Ask the non-emergency call-taker whether they can add a note for dispatch, 911 call-takers, or responding units. Use simple wording: “If a call comes in about this address, can it be flagged that I reported a possible swatting threat and that officers should verify carefully?”
5. If you live in an apartment building, dorm, gated community, or managed property, privately alert the person who controls access, such as building security, a front desk, a resident adviser, a landlord, or a property manager. Keep it limited: “There may be a hoax emergency call about my unit. Please do not broadcast details; contact me or follow your normal safety procedure if responders arrive.”
6. Brief anyone at the address in one sentence: “There may be a hoax police or EMS response here; if anyone arrives, keep your hands visible, stay calm, follow instructions, and let me explain that I reported a swatting threat.”
7. If police or emergency services are actively arriving and you fear a dangerous misunderstanding, call 911 and say: “Officers are at my address now. I believe this is a swatting or false call. I am the resident and I am inside. Please notify the responding units.”
8. If officers contact you, keep your hands empty and visible, follow instructions, and use a calm script: “I’m the resident. I reported a swatting threat earlier. I believe this is a false call. What do you need from me to verify?”
9. After the immediate risk passes, ask the responding agency or non-emergency line for an incident number, case number, or call reference so future contacts can be connected to the same issue.