Police Warn Of "Swatting" After Ashland Incident

ASHLAND (CBS) -- Police are asking the public to be on alert after a recent scam call escalated into a dangerous situation.

Public safety officials are taking to social media to warn about "swatting," which typically involves tricking police "into dispatching an emergency response based on the false report of an on-going critical incident."

Ashland police said that on Tuesday, scammers were able to use a police business line phone number to a call a local woman and demand $6,000. When the woman declined, police said they simultaneously received a call from her phone number, where an individual claimed that the scam victim had taken one of his AK-47 rifles and threatened to kill him

The scammer even produced fake gunfire noise, police said.

Police surrounded the home and a nearby school was placed on lockdown. The scammer also told the woman that authorities were waiting for her outside, according to police.

The situation was resolved safely, police said.

"If you receive a call from us, or anybody, demanding money, DO NOT give any personal details or money to the caller," Ashland police said. "Call us immediately."

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