Overview
- The trend uses generative image tools to place a disheveled-looking man inside homes, with creators sharing the staged texts and photos on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat alongside how-to tutorials.
- Police in the U.S., U.K., and Ireland have issued public warnings after real deployments, including Dorset Police responding to a 999 call and An Garda Síochána sharing examples of AI images sent to authorities.
- Round Rock, Texas police reported two recent home-invasion calls tied to the prank and noted such reports can trigger aggressive responses, potentially including armed room clearances or a SWAT callout.
- Legal consequences are emerging: the Brown County, Ohio sheriff charged two juveniles, and Salem, Massachusetts cited state penalties for willfully communicating false information to emergency services.
- Platforms and tools face scrutiny, with TikTok adding AI labels to flagged videos and Google’s Gemini generating requested images even as some systems block such prompts, while police condemn the prank as dehumanizing toward people experiencing homelessness and urge verification before dialing 911.