A concerning trend known as the ‘homeless man prank’ has led to a series of police warnings after fabricated images of ‘intruders’ sent to unsuspecting individuals resulted in actual emergency calls.
This trend began on TikTok and involves individuals using AI to craft highly realistic images of a homeless person seemingly inside their homes or dorms, typically in bedrooms and kitchens, which they then share with friends or family to alarm them.
The pranksters post the responses online, often finding humor in their targets’ anxiety.
In one widely viewed instance, a woman messages her husband a picture of a shirtless man in their kitchen, claiming he’s a plumber fixing the dishwasher. The husband, believing it to be true, angrily insists she ‘get him out’. While this particular prank ended without issues, others include claims of a homeless man entering their home for food.
In the UK, Dorset Police had to address an emergency call from a frightened parent who thought an intruder had entered the home while their daughter was alone. Officers arrived at the scene only to find it was all part of the prank.
The police emphasized that ‘valuable deployable resources’ were squandered on this incident, potentially diverting them from real emergencies.
“If you receive a message and pictures similar to the above antics from friends or family, please attempt to check it isn’t a prank before dialing 999,” Dorset Police cautioned in an online statement.
In the United States, the Oak Harbor Police Department in Washington released a statement following a false social media post claiming a homeless man was seen on a high school campus.
“This claim is not accurate,” the department clarified. “There have been no incidents or safety concerns involving the homeless population at any Oak Harbor School District campus.”
The false report was traced back to students using the AI prank to produce a convincing image of a man.
The department added: “In this case, students generated and circulated an image implying the presence of a homeless individual on school grounds, leading to unnecessary concern within the community.”
Law enforcement is collaborating with the school district to investigate and raise awareness.
Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic are advising parents to discuss the dangers of disseminating fake AI-generated content with their children.
While these pranks might elicit amusing reactions, it’s wise to refrain from playing them on family or at school.