TikTok Trend of Faking a Homeless Intruder Prompts Police Warnings
Salem, MA - A disturbing new TikTok and Instagram trend involving the use of AI-generated images to convince family members a homeless person has broken into their home is drawing condemnation from law enforcement and raising concerns about wasted emergency resources and the dehumanization of vulnerable populations. The “AI Homeless Man Prank” involves users creating realistic-looking images of a disheveled individual inside their homes, sharing them with loved ones, and then documenting the recipients’ alarmed reactions.
The trend quickly gained traction as users published chat histories showcasing the fear and distress of those targeted, fueling further participation. While many online commenters found the prank amusing – with reactions like ”Definately the best prank ever!! 🤣🤣” – others expressed serious ethical concerns. One TikTok user wrote, “This is not funny. Respect your parents, peopel… My husband could have had a stroke…”
The prank often involves initially ignoring frantic phone calls from worried family members after the fabricated images are sent. Increasingly, however, concerned relatives are contacting the police.
Authorities are now issuing public warnings. The Salem, Massachusetts Police Department stated in a recent alert: “Aside from the fact that this prank is in bad taste, there are many reasons why it is, frankly, stupid and perhaps dangerous… The prank dehumanizes homeless people, causing the frightened recipient to panic and wastes police resources. Emergency responders who are called to such an incident do not know that it is a hoax and are treating the case as a burglary in progress – what a dangerous situation can create.”
Police in Ohio echoed these concerns, stating on facebook that the activity is “not a ‘prank’ – it is a criminal offense.” They warned that individuals participating in the trend could face both criminal and civil prosecution for unnecessarily deploying emergency services.
Even AI developers are distancing themselves from the trend. When KURIER Trend hub tested the AI chatbot chatgpt with a request to generate instructions for the prank, it refused, stating it would “contribute to causing harm” and could result in “legal problems.”
