'George Soros becomes latest victim of prank 911 call'

NEW DELHI: Billionaire George Soros' estate in Southampton Village, New York, was the latest target of a "swatting" incident on Saturday. This prank involved a false 911 call claiming a violent crime at the residence, a tactic that has recently affected several high-profile individuals.

The New York Post reported that the Southampton Village Police Department received a call around 9pm on Saturday. The caller falsely claimed to have shot his wife and was threatening suicide at Soros' mansion on Old Town Road. Upon arrival, officers, including Southampton Village Detective Sgt Herman Lamison, found the call to be a hoax.

It was not clear whether Soros or his family members were at home during the incident.

The practice of "swatting" involves making a bogus police report, typically of a severe crime like murder or a hostage situation, to provoke a SWAT team response at the victim's home. This not only diverts police resources from real emergencies but also terrorizes the targeted individuals in their homes.

Soros, a well-known left-wing billionaire and philanthropist, has been active in supporting various candidates for prosecutor positions across the country as part of his criminal justice system reform efforts. His work extends beyond prosecutors, with his Open Society Policy Center funding initiatives on critical policy issues.

Recently, Soros handed control of his $25 billion empire to his son, Alex Soros. The Open Society Policy Center, part of the Soros-funded Open Society Foundations network, contributed $15.18 million to Future Forward USA Action in 2022 for research and content testing on significant policy matters. This nonprofit is linked to President Biden’s main outside super PAC for the 2024 elections.

Soros joins other high-profile figures who have been victims of "swatting" in recent weeks, including Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Republican US Representatives Brandon Williams and Marjorie Taylor Greene.