Editing False flag (section)

===Ideological===
[[File:Cooper bomb threat.gif|thumb|A bomb threat forged by Scientology operatives.]]
Proponents of political or religious ideologies will sometimes use false flag tactics. This can be done to discredit or implicate rival groups, create the appearance of enemies when none exist, or create the illusion of organized and directed persecution. This can be used to gain attention and sympathy from outsiders, in particular the media, or to convince others within the group that their beliefs are under attack and in need of protection.

In retaliation for writing ''[[The Scandal of Scientology]]'', some members of the Church of [[Scientology]] stole stationery from author [[Paulette Cooper]]'s home and then used that stationery to forge bomb threats and have them mailed to a Scientology office. The [[Guardian's Office]] also had a plan for further operations to discredit Cooper known as [[Operation Freakout]], but several Scientology operatives were arrested in a separate investigation and the plan was exposed.<ref>[[s:United States of America v. Jane Kember, Morris Budlong, Sentencing Memorandum|United States of America v. Jane Kember, Morris Budlong, Sentencing Memorandum]]; pp. 23–25.</ref>

According to ''[[PolitiFact]]'', some false flag conspiracy theories (such as claims that mass shootings are hoaxes) are themselves spread by [[astroturfing]], which is an attempt to create false impression of popularity in a belief.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why do some people think mass shootings are staged every time? |date=2019 |language=en-US |website=politifact |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/aug/08/why-do-some-people-think-mass-shootings-are-staged/}}</ref>