BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — From area schools to Boca Raton Town Center Mall, Boca Raton Police have responded to a number of “Swatting” calls over the past several days. The callers suggest that someone is preparing to launch an attach on a group of people, a school, a home, or other location. The calls are fake. But the response is real.
Boca Raton Police issued this statement Tuesday afternoon:
“Over the course of the last week, Boca Raton Police received several “swatting” calls within the City of Boca Raton. These incidents involved false reports intended to generate a large law enforcement response to locations where no actual emergency existed.
Making these calls is a criminal offense, punishable by prison time. Swatting calls are dangerous, disruptive and a misuse of emergency resources. They create unnecessary fear and confusion for community members and divert officers away from legitimate calls for service.
While we do not wish to cause alarm, we want to reiterate that all reports involving potential threats to public safety are taken seriously. When these calls are received, officers will continue to respond and conduct a thorough check for suspicious or criminal activity. Identifying the source of these calls is difficult, as these calls are often traced back to foreign countries, and the callers tend to use a VPN (virtual private network) to mask the identity and exact location of the call.
These investigations are extensive and time-intensive, and we are committed to pursuing those responsible for these calls to the fullest extent of the law.”
BocaNewsNow.com notes that people do get caught and prosecuted. In Broward County, several teens have been arrested and charged with making SWATTING calls involving area schools over the past year. Law Enforcement does have resources to find people responsible. If you are aware of people making these calls, you can always remain anonymous and share a tip with CrimeStoppers at 800-458-TIPS, or CrimeStoppersPBC.com.
