Overview
- Departments in Salem, West Bloomfield, Yonkers and Dorset have issued public advisories as the trend spreads on social platforms.
- Some recipients have dialed 911 or 999 after seeing the fabricated images, and a Round Rock police commander warned such reports can prompt a SWAT response.
- Police describe the stunt as dehumanizing to people experiencing homelessness, a drain on emergency resources, and a catalyst for potentially dangerous confrontations.
- Participants use consumer AI tools to insert a fake intruder into photos of their homes, text the images to relatives, and post recorded reactions to TikTok and other apps.
- Authorities urge parents to speak with children and advise recipients to verify with household members before calling, noting Massachusetts law allows up to 2.5 years in jail or a $1,000 fine for causing a false dispatch.