Some politicians across Georgia and in other parts of the country had some uninvited guests during the Christmas holidays. We’re not talking about unwanted relatives or even protesters. Some state and federal lawmakers found their house surrounded by police.

This was the result of an online prank known as swatting. It works by calling the police or emergency services and reporting that a fake violent crime is taking place at an address. Police muster their resources and respond like they usually would when such a call comes in, only to find out that nothing is actually happening.

If swatting victims are lucky, the only damage done is a major inconvenience and the waste of police resources. Unfortunately, it can also end tragically.

The most famous swatting case happened in late December 2017. Two men, Casey Viner and Shane Gaskill, got into an argument while playing the video game “Call of Duty: WWII.” Viner threatened to swat Gaskill, which prompted Gaskill to intentionally give him an incorrect address.

Viner got in touch with a man named Tyler Barriss, who had a long history of crimes, including bomb threats and other swatting incidents. Barriss initiated a swatting call on the address that Gaskill gave him.

That address was in Wichita, Kansas, and was the home of Andrew Finch. Police surrounded Finch’s home, and as he was leaving the house, he was fatally shot by police. Barriss, Viner and Gaskill would all serve time in prison for their roles in Finch’s death.

Six years after those tragic events, a number of politicians from both sides of the aisle found themselves the victim of swatting attacks.

In Georgia, four state senators — Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Buford; Sen. Kim Jackson, D-Stone Mountain; Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta; Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell — along with Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene were among the politicians dealing with swatting calls during the Christmas holiday. They weren’t the only ones dealing with swatting calls as U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, Ohio’s attorney general and the mayor of Boston were also attacked.

After the deadly swatting incident in their state, Kansas passed laws that provided tougher sentences for those involved in swatting incidents.

It is time for Georgia and the federal government to also consider stepping up the punishment that is dealt out to people perpetuating such hoaxes.

There is nothing funny about endangering the lives of citizens or police officers by reporting fake crimes. Thankfully, no one was harmed by any of these pranks, but it could have been much worse.

This editorial was shared by The Brunswick (Ga.) News by way of The Associated Press.