A heavily armed special unit storms a flat at gunpoint. The police are convinced that it is an emergency, but instead they encounter residents who are completely taken by surprise. This phenomenon is called swatting and actually comes from the USA. However, well-known streamers such as Montana Black, Rainer Winkler, Knossi, Tanzverbot and Anni The Duck have also fallen victim to such fake distress calls in Germany.
What do perpetrators gain from harassing people, some of whom are complete strangers, with a swatting operation? And what can you do if you find yourself in such a scenario?
Dr Josephine B. Schmitt talks about this with Lydia Benecke and Sarah Koldehoff.