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Law enforcement departments in several states said that an online trend in which people are tricked into believing a homeless man is in their homes could have dangerous consequences.
Oct. 16, 2025Updated 10:19 p.m. ET
Police departments in at least four states are warning about an online trend in which people are using A.I.-generated images to trick friends and relatives into believing that a homeless man had invaded their homes.
They say that the “disturbing” and “dangerous” prank causes panic and wastes public resources, as it can result in police officers responding to nonexistent emergencies.
The stunt received attention after hundreds of videos with hashtags like #aihomelessprank and #homelessmanprank circulated on TikTok; at least one video raked in over a million views.
The prank works like this: A person texts a friend or family member an A.I.-generated picture of a homeless man knocking at the door, eating in the kitchen or lying in bed at the home. The sender often claims that the man had said he was an acquaintance and had asked to come inside or for food.
Then, the person who receives the picture reacts, often with concern or panic. The prankster then includes the reaction in a video posted to social media.
The pranks can cause panic, waste resources and are dangerous, according to police agencies in Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin. The police said they had responded to multiple calls of home intrusions, only for officers dispatched to the scene to learn that the break-ins were fake.
