Tech company shares possible solution after hoax school threats in Horry County

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - After six recent hoax threats against Carolina Forest High School, a tech company is offering some advice.

MORE COVERAGE | Horry County police chief speaks on threats targeting Carolina Forest High School

TDR Solutions works with law enforcement agencies and school districts across the country to track fake threats and swatting calls along with providing technology to help prevent them.

The company created a program called “School Access Manager,” or “SAM.”

The company’s CEO, Don Beeler, said SAM operates as a real person fielding those calls.

“It’s no different than having a school resource officer at the front of your building that checks everybody,” he said. “If you don’t produce the right credentials, they’re not going to let you into the building. It’s the same with our product.”

SAM looks at calls and emails coming into a school and recognizes patterns to filter hoax threats from actual ones.

“It can recognize if it’s a good or bad caller before the phone even rings on the other end,” Beeler said.

Beeler said many of these calls come from outside of the country.

He said often that leads students to believe they can do the same as a prank with little consequences.

The company launched the SAM education program to show students the criminal and financial trouble they can face.

The company also researches how much money these hoax calls are taking out of your pockets.

Beeler said the six calls targeting Carolina Forest High School will cost taxpayers $800,000.

He said they use learning time requirements, school budgets, and the amount of students to come up with the number.

Horry County School District said they cannot confirm that number.

To learn more about TDR Solutions click here.

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