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Police say threats against Potsdam schools were made with fake Facebook profile in attempt at 'swatting'

Posted 5/22/15

POTSDAM -- Potsdam Police say threats of violence made against Potsdam schools were made using a fraudulent Facebook account and in an attempt at so-called “swatting.” “The Potsdam Police …

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Police say threats against Potsdam schools were made with fake Facebook profile in attempt at 'swatting'

Posted

POTSDAM -- Potsdam Police say threats of violence made against Potsdam schools were made using a fraudulent Facebook account and in an attempt at so-called “swatting.”

“The Potsdam Police Department observed an online threat posted to its Facebook page last night (May 21) from a fraudulent account created that day without the person’s knowledge. The same account posted a threat to the New York State Police Facebook page,” Potsdam Police Lt. Mark Murray said. “The female individual from which the account was falsely created and from which the threats were posted was identified and is a victim of an online hacker attempting a swatting incident. The fake account and threats originated from outside the New York State area.”

“Swatting” is when a hacker tricks 911 systems into deploying SWAT or a large police response to an unsuspecting victim’s home under false pretenses, Murray said.

By committing the new cybercrime, strangers thousands of miles away are capable of putting people in danger in their own homes, Murray said.

Troopers said they received a report of an online threat through their Facebook page around 11 p.m.

The school was reportedly notified, the threat is being investigated and does not appear to be credible at this time, troopers said.

The posts on Facebook were made under the name Jeana Bristow.

The threats were “Going to be a blood bath Monday at some preschools and high school I can’t wait to see people die,” “Feel like blowing up schools in Potsdam, NY,” “Might shoot them up also who knows.”

State and Potsdam police continue to investigate.