[IBTimes] The FBI is investigating the threats, which have already led to the arrest of other group members
An bully boy group is offering fake school‑shooting threats for as little as $20 (£14.79), triggering a nationwide law enforcement alert and raising urgent concerns about how bully boy online networks are weaponising emergency systems.
This practice, known as 'swatting for hire', involves malicious actors placing false emergency calls in order to provoke an armed police response. The tactic not only drains public safety resources, it also endangers the lives of students, faculty, and bystanders.
COORDINATED CAMPUS ATTACKS BEGIN WITH TELEGRAM GROUP PURGATORY
According to Wired, a person using the online alias 'Gores' claims to be co‑leader of an online group named Purgatory, which has links to the bully boy network known as The Com. Gores and another member, known as 'tor', began placing swatting calls on 21 August. That same day, both the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Villanova University were forced into lockdowns following fake reports of active shooters.
Inside Higher Ed later reported that 19 swatting calls had been confirmed at American universities between 19—28 August. Targets included Mercer University, the University of Wisconsin—Madison, the University of Utah, and the University of New Hampshire.
Villanova University, a Catholic school in Pennsylvania, was hit twice in four days. During the second incident, a hoax call forced students and faculty to evacuate during an orientation Mass. Student Ava Petrosky, who was singing at the time, told CNN
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she thought she was going to die.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, senior Luke Robbins described chaos as armed police stormed the building: 'In two seconds, the whole classroom evacuated. Run outside, there's cops with ARs [assault rifles] in the hallways, and they're like, "Hey, go up this way," so we get out. Run across the street. There's even more cops telling us to go. I mean, it was just hectic. It's crazy.'
LIVESTREAMED CHAOS AND A PAID CAMPAIGN OF TERROR
As the swatting spree escalated, Purgatory members reportedly livestreamed their actions on Discord to an audience of around 40 people. Wired confirmed that researchers had monitored these calls in real time and reviewed recordings of swatting attempts shared by members.
Gores told Wired that swatting attacks were available for hire—initially offered for $20, with prices increasing to $95 during the current campaign. The group also advertised threats against hospitals, businesses, and airports for $50. So-called 'brickings' and 'slashings' were listed at $10. Gores further claimed that Purgatory had earned roughly $100,000 during the spree, although Wired could not independently verify that figure.
Not every hoax was successful. One researcher affiliated with the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) was able to intercept a live call targeting Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and alert campus security, preventing a police deployment. In another case, the same researcher heard Gores include the sound of a shotgun blast in the background of a hoax call to try to convince emergency responders of its authenticity.
FBI INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY, PAST ARRESTS HIGHLIGHT THE THREAT
The FBI confirmed it is investigating the rise in swatting incidents and said it is seeing an increase in such events across the country. In a public statement, the agency warned: 'Knowingly providing false information to emergency service agencies about a possible threat to life drains law enforcement resources, costs thousands of dollars and, most importantly, puts innocent people at risk.'
Wired also reported that Nicole Mueksch, a spokesperson for the University of Colorado Boulder, said the university police are working with 'state and federal partners, including the FBI, to explore any potential leads or patterns that may be connected to other recent swatting cases across the country.'
The group's activities are not entirely new. In 2024, three Purgatory members—Owen Jarboe, Brayden Grace, and Evan Strauss—were arrested in connection with swatting attacks on a Delaware high school, a trailer park in Alabama, Albany International Airport, an Ohio casino, and a private residence in Georgia. All three pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges including conspiracy, cyberstalking, and threatening to damage property with fire or explosives.
Despite the scrutiny, Gores told Wired the campaign would continue for another two months. When asked if he was concerned about the FBI's investigation, he replied: 'Shit don't put fear into me. Just another day in our life yk?'
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