Oregon Sheriff Warns Teens After AI ‘Homeless Man’ TikTok Prank Triggers 911 Responses

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) has warned teens and their parents of the consequences of hoax calls after deputies responded to several 911 calls when teenagers superimposed a nationwide viral AI-generated TikTok with realistic images of a disheveled “homeless man” inside their own homes, and sent the images to family or friends as a prank.

Many parents who received these AI-generated photos from their teens thought an intruder was present, and called Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon ECSO 911 Dispatch. JCSO deputies responded, but all incidents were determined to be hoaxes.

These pranks may constitute initiating a false report, a Class A misdemeanor under Oregon law, and offenders may be required to repay response and investigation costs. If a SWAT team is deployed, the charge carries a mandatory minimum jail term of 10 days.

After the recent calls, the teens involved were given warnings, but they may not be so lucky next time. JCSO urged parents to talk with their children about how AI can create convincing fake content, the serious legal and emotional consequences of online pranks, and the dangers of misusing emergency services.