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

Short answer

Call your local law enforcement non-emergency number now, explain you’ve received a “swatting/hoax 911” threat, and ask if they can add a note/flag for dispatch (if available locally) to reduce the risk of a dangerous response.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t call 911 just to “get ahead of it” unless there is an immediate threat to life, a crime in progress, or responders are already arriving and you fear a dangerous misunderstanding.
  • Don’t engage the person threatening you, dare them, or try to “trap” them yourself.
  • Don’t go outside to “explain” while police are arriving, and don’t approach officers quickly or with anything in your hands.
  • Don’t livestream, post your location, or share details that help someone craft a more convincing hoax.
  • Don’t delete messages, screenshots, voicemails, or account details tied to the threat.

What to do now

  1. Stabilize the scene at home. Lock doors, move away from windows, put pets in a separate room, and keep your phone charged and on loud.
  2. Preserve the threat evidence immediately. Screenshot the threat (include usernames/handles and timestamps). Save voicemails. Write down any phone numbers, emails, or platform profiles involved.
  3. Call your local police/sheriff non-emergency line and say plainly:
    • “I received a threat that someone will make a fake emergency report to send police/EMS to my address (swatting).”
    • Your full address (include apartment/unit), your name, and the best callback number.
    • Any details the hoax caller might use (names, claims they could make). Ask whether they can add a note for dispatch/911 call-takers (PSAP) or a premise alert (if your area uses them) so responding units know there may be a hoax and have a safe way to verify.
  4. If you live in an apartment building, dorm, or HOA/managed community, give a private heads-up to the right person. Example: “We got a swatting threat to this unit. If anyone arrives asking for us, please contact me/verify calmly rather than broadcasting details.” Keep it limited (no wide group messages).
  5. Brief your household in one sentence. Example: “We may get a hoax police/EMS response; if anyone arrives, keep hands visible, stay calm, and let me speak.”
  6. Plan how you’ll communicate if officers arrive.
    • Stay inside unless instructed otherwise.
    • Keep hands empty and visible; do not hold your phone up like you’re recording unless told it’s okay.
    • 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?”
  7. If police 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/false call; please notify responding units. I’m the resident and I’m inside.” Use 911 only for urgent, in-the-moment risk.
  8. After the immediate risk passes, make sure the report is logged. Ask for an incident/case number (or call reference) from the responding agency so you can match future calls to the same issue.

What can wait

  • You do not need to identify the caller, investigate, or confront anyone right now.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to pursue charges, restraining orders, or civil steps.
  • You do not need to overhaul your online presence in the next hour; focus on preventing an unsafe interaction first.

Important reassurance

This kind of threat is designed to spike adrenaline and push you into rash moves. The safest path is to make things boring: preserve evidence, notify local law enforcement through non-emergency channels, and minimize the chance of a dangerous misread if officers show up.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance to reduce immediate harm. Follow-up actions (platform reports, longer-term privacy changes, legal advice) can come later.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Procedures vary by agency and state. If you believe there is an immediate threat to life, call 911.

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