Bungie executive falls victim to "swatting"

It appears that even being a Bungie executive can't save you from "swatting," a hoax in which callers report dangerous situations to authorities and prompt a response via 911 responders, namely with SWAT.

In the case of the Bungie employee, officers had been responding to a 911 report that there was a hostage situation at his home, so SWAT and a helicopter were sent to the location.

The police state that the 911 caller had reported that the executive had been holding his family hostage with a rifle and setting off explosives in the yard, with demands of $20,000 to free the family. After police were dispatched to the area, it was quickly determined there was no hostage situation and the call was indeed a hoax. Of course, Bungie's employee was safe and sound, but things don't bode well for whomever was involved in the prank call.

The police are of the opinion that the perpetrator is possibly involved within the gaming industry, possibly a contractor or coworker "who didn't have a great experience" with the executive, and they could be acing up to a $5,000 fine, as well as a year in jail.

Thanks, GI.biz.