Fact check: What are the probabilities that perpetrators of Swatting are tracked down and prosecuted?

1. Summary of the results

The probability of tracking and prosecuting swatting perpetrators appears to be relatively low, though exact statistics are unavailable since no central agency has comprehensively tracked these incidents in the U.S. ^[1]. The FBI has observed a significant increase in swatting incidents, from 400 in 2011 to over 1,000 in 2019 ^[2], but prosecution remains challenging due to several factors:

• There is no comprehensive federal law specifically criminalizing swatting ^[2]
• Many police departments view these incidents as nuisances and often choose not to investigate ^[3]
• Perpetrators frequently use VoIP services and temporary email accounts to hide their identities ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

While successful prosecutions are relatively rare, there have been notable cases demonstrating that perpetrators can be caught and face serious consequences:

• A 17-year-old Ohio teen was charged with 40 felony and 33 misdemeanor delinquency charges for multiple swatting calls ^[4]
• A California man received a 20-year federal prison sentence for a swatting incident that resulted in a fatal police shooting ^{[4] [5]}
• Several Canadian teens were successfully arrested for swatting incidents ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself might suggest that tracking and prosecution rates can be easily quantified, which is misleading since:

• No official national statistics on swatting prosecutions exist ^[2]
• The FBI has only recently created a national database to coordinate law enforcement reports ^[2]
• The lack of a specific federal law means incidents are typically prosecuted under various other statutes, making tracking more difficult ^[2]

This fragmented approach to prosecution benefits various groups:

• Perpetrators feel emboldened by the perceived low risk of being caught ^[3]
• Technology companies providing VoIP services and temporary email accounts indirectly benefit from the difficulty in tracking users
• Law enforcement agencies may benefit from reduced workload by treating these incidents as low priority ^[3]