Swatting incidents have occurred at Villanova and University of South Carolina in recent days. What is going on? What is swatting? What to know.

Authorities are investigating two reports of active shooters that were both deemed false at Villanova University over the last four days. The false reports prompted shelter-in-place orders as well as large police responses as the college outside Philadelphia began fall semester.

The active shooter alert that forced Villanova University students to shelter in place on Thursday was a result of a cruel hoax," according to President Rev. Peter Donohue.