Swatting: How to Protect Yourself and What to Do If It Happens (2026)
Immediate steps
- During a swatting: comply fully with officers, keep hands visible, state calmly that you believe you are being swatted.
- After: file a police report and document the incident.
- Report to the FBI IC3.
- If the swatting followed online threats, preserve those threats as evidence.
Evidence preservation
Save any prior threats or 'I'll swat you' messages with URLs and timestamps. Note the responding agency and any case/incident number. Keep a record of who was involved if you were targeted via a streaming platform or game.
Where to report
| Entity | Contact | What to report |
|---|---|---|
| Local police | Non-emergency line; 911 during an incident | The swatting incident and any preceding threats; request a case number |
| FBI IC3 | https://www.ic3.gov | Swatting and the online threats/actors behind it |
Removal actions
- Remove your home address from people-search sites and Google results so attackers can't easily find where to send police.
- Lock down accounts and remove location metadata from posts/streams.
Prevention and follow-up
- Check whether your local 911 center offers a Smart911 safety profile or a Rave Facility / '911 address flag' where you can register a 'swatting concern' — when offered, dispatchers can flag your address for responders. Availability is local and opt-in; not every PSAP participates (Seattle PD pioneered this model).
- Notify your local police non-emergency line in advance if you have a credible reason to expect a swatting.
- Remove your address from data brokers; reduce doxxing exposure.
- If you stream or are a public figure, avoid revealing location details.
Legal context
Swatting is prosecutable under state false-report and related laws, and can carry federal charges, especially when it crosses state lines or causes injury. In May 2023 the FBI launched the National Common Operating Picture (NCOP) Virtual Command Center, a law-enforcement data-sharing tool to track swatting incidents nationally — note this is a police-facing system, not a database individuals register with. This is general information, not legal advice.
Key mistakes to avoid
- Making sudden movements or arguing with arriving officers.
- Assuming the Smart911/Rave flag exists everywhere — confirm with your local 911 center.
- Believing the flag stops a police response (officers still respond; the flag changes how they approach).
- Leaving your home address freely available on broker sites.
How Delist helps
Swatters need your real home address — which they typically pull from people-search sites or doxxing posts. Removing your address from data brokers removes the targeting information swatters rely on. delist.ai automates that removal and re-checks for relisting.
Find out what personal data is exposed about you online.
Run a free scan →Frequently asked questions
Is this illegal?
How do I prevent this from happening again?
Should I contact the police?
Can Delist help with this?
Sources
- Seattle PD use of Smart911 / Rave to register 'swatting concerns' flagged to responders
- Existence of a '911 Address Flag' in CAD tied to an address
- FBI IC3 reporting channel
This guide provides general information for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, medical, or safety advice. If you are in danger, contact emergency services immediately.