Hoax Threats and “Swatting” at School: What Families Should Know

Fake threats of a shooting or a bomb keep locking down K-12 schools across the country. Here is why schools respond the way they do, and what families can do when it happens.

On Thursday, October 22, a false threat sent police to the schools in Penn Yan, New York. Officers from several agencies, with K-9 teams and school staff, searched the district's elementary, middle and high schools, while nearby schools were locked down or put in a lockout. They found no threat. The district called it a “swatting” call and said other New York schools had recently reported similar threats [1].

Penn Yan is not alone. In September, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice sent schools new guidance on swatting. They called these threats a growing problem for K-12 schools and warned that they often come in clusters [2]. In South Carolina, the FBI says school hoax threats rose 70% over the past year [3]. Most turn out to be fake. But each one disrupts a school day and frightens families, and schools have to treat every threat as real until it is checked.

What swatting is

Swatting means making a false report of a serious emergency, such as an active shooter, a bomb or a hostage situation, to trick police into sending a large emergency response [2]. Callers often hide who they are by faking caller ID or sending threats by email or online. Some threats come from outside the country, and many arrive in waves that reach several schools on the same day [2].

Other hoax threats start closer to home. A student may post a threat on social media or send it in a group chat as a “joke,” to get out of a test, or to get back at someone. The FBI says some young people post threats as a cry for attention or as a way to get revenge or control [4].

Why schools respond the way they do

When a threat comes in, a school doesn't wait to find out whether it's real. The federal guidance tells schools to treat every threat as credible when it arrives, make sure everyone is safe first, and bring in law enforcement [2]. Depending on the situation, that can mean a lockout, a lockdown, an evacuation or a search of the buildings. Our post What Happens During a Lockdown Drill explains those terms.

Schools are also asked to practice deciding quickly whether a threat is a hoax, the same way they practice for severe weather [2]. So a lockdown that ends within an hour isn't a sign the school overreacted. It's the plan working.

If your child's school gets a threat

1. Wait for the school's message. Official updates come from the school or district by text, email, app or the district website. Make sure the school has your current cell number.
2. Don't go to the school unless you're asked to. Extra cars and crowds can block emergency vehicles and slow down a safe pickup.
3. Keep the phone lines free. Calling the school office ties up lines that staff need during an emergency.
4. Report, don't repost. Rumors and screenshots spread fast. Federal guidance asks people to report threats they see online, not share them [2], and the FBI says sharing a threat can spread wrong information and cause panic [4].
5. If you're asked to pick up your child, follow the plan. Bring photo ID and go to the place the school names, which may not be the school itself. Our post on reunification explains how pickup works.

How to report a threat

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you or your child see or hear about a threat against a school, tell the school and your local police right away. You can also send a tip to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) [4][6]. Take a screenshot if you can, but don't forward it to others [4]. Many states also have an anonymous school tip line; find yours on our state numbers page, or see Where to report.

Talking with your child

Kids may hear about a threat at school, on the bus or in a group chat, especially if their own school locked down. Keep it simple: someone made a fake threat to scare people, the police checked, and the school was safe. Practicing drills is how staff keep everyone calm when something like this happens. For more ideas, see Talking With Kids About Scary News.

Older kids and teens also need a clear message about their own choices [3][4]:

• A threat is never a joke, even in a private chat or a disappearing message. The FBI says investigators can often trace threats sent through VPNs, throwaway accounts or disappearing-message apps [3].
• If you see a threat, tell an adult right away. Don't share it with friends.
• If you're angry or upset with someone, talk to a parent, a teacher or the school counselor.

An FBI leader in South Carolina called a home where children feel comfortable raising concerns “the first line of defense” [3]. If your child seems to be struggling, the school counselor can help. If a child or teen talks about wanting to hurt themselves, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Sources

1. Penn Yan school threat ruled a swatting hoax after searches, lockdowns (FingerLakes1.com, October 23, 2026)
2. Guidance to Educational Institutions on Swatting Threats (GEN-26-04) (U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice, September 25, 2026)
3. FBI warns of 70% surge in South Carolina school hoax threats as new year begins (FOX Carolina, August 24, 2026)
4. Think Before You Post: Hoax Threats Are Serious Federal Crimes (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI))
5. FBI Houston reports arrests for school threats with new academic year just beginning (FOX 26 Houston, August 18, 2026)
6. Building a Digital Defense with #ThinkBeforeYouPost (FBI Portland)

This post is general information. Your school's own plan comes first, so ask the school office for its specific procedures.