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Comment by mynameisvlad | Hacker News Reader

> People are able to send SWAT teams to houses as a prank. Someone malicious who is stalking another person could use this information to justify their "prank".

Yes, by lying and saying there is a dangerous situation like a hostage. In the swatting incident from last year, they were called because the person said he "had fatally shot his father, and was holding family members at gunpoint."

SWAT gets sent out, sure. But SWAT does not get sent out for minor drug charges. They're called special weapons and tactics for a reason.

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Not true:

"SPOKANE, Wash. - SWAT raided a Spokane home on heroin warrant. It happened just before 11 am Friday morning at a duplex home on the corner of 4th and Altamont. Details were not immediately known but authorities on scene say they were serving a warrant related to heroin."

http://www.khq.com/story/21437261/swat-situation

How do police obtaining a warrant? In part by establishing probable cause. How is probable cause determined in the US:

"Probable cause can be based on either direct observation by the police officer, or on hearsay information provided by others."

Once again, probable cause is a much higher bar than a Venmo transaction where you can put whatever you want in the description.

I believe I understand your point: police themselves are unlikely to initiate a SWAT raid based on the Venmo transaction comment.

However, I don't believe you are sincerely trying to understand my point: If probably cause can be established by, "hearsay information provided by others", Then the Venmo transaction information could result in someone being SWATed by a well intending citizen or a malicious person.

Therefore, the availability of this information on Venmo can be a contributing factor to someone having the police called on them (and the police responding). I am not sure where the hole in this logic is?

> SWAT gets sent out, sure. But SWAT does not get sent out for minor drug charges. They're called special weapons and tactics for a reason.

Sure they get called out for minor drug raids. For "practice." Especially in smaller locales where SWAT is needed infrequently. It's probably a bad idea, but it is what it is.

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