Likely perpetrators of campus shooter pranks at Villanova and other institutions identified in a recent report.

A recently identified swatting group has been causing chaos and disruption at several universities across the United States. The group, believed to be known as "UNC450", has been using Voice over IP services like Google Voice and hacked accounts to make false emergency reports.

The first reported incident occurred on August 21, when Delaware County's Department of Emergency Services received a call reporting an active shooter on Villanova's campus. The call was followed by several additional calls with "gunshot-like" sounds in the background, prompting students to shelter in place for about an hour. The university president later declared the situation a cruel hoax.

On Aug. 25, the same group is believed to have targeted at least six more colleges: the University of Arkansas, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, and the University of Colorado Boulder. The report also states that two additional calls targeted the University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Aug. 24.

The actions of this group are considered serious crimes, not just pranks. These false reports can provide notoriety to groups on the dark web and generate revenue for their members. The group is also using VPNs to hide their location in the network, making it challenging for a call center to pinpoint the caller's IP address.

A report by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) suggests that this swatting group made false emergency reports at least ten universities between August 21 and August 25, 20XX. The group is known for causing chaos, mayhem, and damage, but the report does not mention any specific social media platforms being used by the swatting group.

In a previous incident, this particular subgroup was involved in the arrest of three of its former members who were charged in May 2024. The report does not provide details about the financial support needed by the news organization.

It is important to note that these types of incidents can have a significant impact on the affected universities, causing fear, disruption, and financial losses. University administrations are urged to take these threats seriously and to implement appropriate security measures to protect their students, faculty, and staff.

As the investigation into this swatting group continues, it is essential to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities. The safety and well-being of our communities should always be a top priority.

Likely perpetrators of campus shooter pranks at Villanova and other institutions identified in a recent report.