Milwaukee sci-fi writer falls victim to ‘swatting’
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A Milwaukee sci-fi author says he’s been threatened by an online cyber stalker, sending the police to his home with a fake 911 call. This is a potentially dangerous prank known as swatting. At 1 a.m. three weeks ago, police barged into Patrick’s Milwaukee home east of Tomlinson at gunpoint after receiving a call from someone claiming to be Tomlinson. Tomlinson’s WISN 12 News.Home security video shows Tomlinson handcuffed outside in a bathrobe as police search his home. It was a hoax. “It’s something that provokes a very vigorous, very energetic shooting-like response.” Milwaukee police confirmed a false call to the house. , said it was the third time such a false report, or swatting call, had been sent to his home. He said it happened a fourth time, and it happened again two weeks later.”Six uniformed Milwaukee police officers were knocking on our door. Tomlinson said that an online comment four years ago that he disliked certain comedians made him the target of certain online communities and perpetuated constant cyberattacks. Tomlinson believes neither voicing outspoken political views online nor writing science fiction novels led to the threat of the virus by an anonymous attacker. “They’re just interested in hurting people. Their idea of fun is trying to take lives from afar.” News reported.
A Milwaukee sci-fi author says he’s been threatened by an online cyber stalker, sending the police to his home with a fake 911 call.
This is a potentially dangerous prank known as swatting.
At 1 a.m. three weeks ago, after receiving a call from someone claiming to be Tomlinson, police came to Patrick Tomlinson’s East Side Milwaukee home with a gun.
“Used my name. Used this address. They said I just killed my wife and they picked me up and they did,” Tomlinson told WISN 12 News.
Home security video shows Tomlinson being handcuffed outside in a bathrobe as police search his home. But the emergency call was a hoax to send the police home.
“It’s something that evokes a very lively, energetic shootout-like reaction,” Tomlinson said.
Milwaukee Police have confirmed a false alarm to the home.
Tomlinson said it was the third time in the past two years that such a false report, or swatting call, had been sent to his home. He said it happened again, a fourth time, two weeks later.
“Six uniformed Milwaukee police officers were banging on our door. ‘I was receiving,'” Tomlinson said of recent events. incident.
Tomlinson says his online comments four years ago that he disliked certain comedians are what made him a target for certain online communities, and beyond the bashing incident, he continues his relentless cyberattacks. rice field.
He believes it wasn’t his outspoken political views online or his science fiction writing that led to the virus threats from anonymous attackers.
“They don’t care about stuff like that,” said Tomlinson. “They’re just interested in hurting people. Their idea of fun is about ruining lives from afar.”
Wisconsin law calls the crime “swatting,” but Milwaukee police call it “emergency false reporting.”
Police told WISN 12 News that six such cases were reported in Milwaukee this year.
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