New TikTok ‘homeless man’ prank branded ‘dangerous,’ leads to arrests

A viral TikTok trend known arsenic nan “AI Homeless Man Prank” is spurring parental panic and prompting constabulary consequence crossed nan country, arsenic users create AI-altered images showing a bum man wrong their homes.

In 1 video pinch much than 2 cardinal views, a distraught mother told her boy to “let them eat and fto them go” aft he texted her respective clone images of bum men successful their home.

“This is madness! What is this?” nan mother said successful a sound message.

The user, Nnamdi Anunobi, snapped an image of his mother’s furniture pinch nan clone bum man dressed successful torn, stained clothing, lying down for a nap.

“He’s friends sleeping connected your bed,” Anunobi said successful nan clip. “He has been marinating connected your furniture for 2 hours.”

“In my room? What is this? What are you doing? My ain room!” his mother screamed back. “You’ve gone excessively far. I will not return this,” she said, reports Fox News.

Anunobi took nan prank up a notch, telling his mother nan AI-generated bum man claimed her room materials were from his “Auntie’s cousin’s side.”

“I don’t cognize these people. I don’t cognize them. I don’t cognize nan cousin, I don’t cognize nan Auntie,” she said firmly.

What started arsenic a viral joke is now taking a criminal turn, pinch constabulary departments crossed nan federation issuing statements urging nan nationalist to extremity nan “stupid and perchance dangerous” trend.

Two Ohio juveniles were criminally charged for their engagement successful nan “AI Homeless Man Prank,” according to nan Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

The Yonkers Police Department’s statement said “we for illustration to laugh” but warned that manufacturing clone emergencies crosses a statement and could lead to “serious consequences.”

A Public Service Announcement from nan City of Salem Police Department warned pranksters to publication authorities law, noting nan “bad taste” and harm of nan viral trend.

“This prank dehumanizes nan homeless, causes nan distressed recipient to panic and wastes constabulary resources,” nan connection read.

Authorities pass that 911 calls linked to nan prank are being taken earnestly — draining constabulary resources and averting from existent emergencies. 

“Here’s nan problem: officers are responding FAST utilizing lights-and-sirens to what sounds for illustration a telephone of a existent intruder — and only getting called disconnected erstwhile everyone realizes it was a joke,” said nan Yonkers Police Department.