FBI warns of swatting scams toward schools

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The FederaI Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a statement Thursday warning people about fake shooter calls made about schools.

“The FBI is aware of the numerous swatting incidents wherein a report of an active shooter at a school is made," the statement said. "The FBI takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk. While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention."

According to the FBI, swatting is when someone calls 911 and fakes an emergency that leads to a response from law enforcement. The response will sometimes prompt the department's armed tactical unit to get involved.

The statement went on to encourage people to report any potentially suspicious activity to authorities.

The Kansas City office also noted that it had been notified about threats to several schools in both Missouri and Kansas. The office did not specify cities or schools.