Gardaí have confirmed that viral images appearing to show a Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat character terrorising neighbourhoods across Ireland are artificially generated and not real. The creepy pictures, which emerged from Limerick, showed a cat-like figure standing in driveways and wandering streets, causing alarm among locals and online users.
Wexford Gardaí issue statement
The images first appeared on Facebook, although they were rumoured at the time to have originated from image sharing site Snapchat. They were accompanied by false reports that police were investigating the character. The hoax spread beyond Limerick, with fake images appearing in Glanmire, Cork, Cahir, Tipperary, Curracloe, Wexford, and Broadford Park in Dublin.
A spokesperson for Wexford Gardaí said: "In an unusual turn of events we are hearing a lot about an illusive Dr Seuss character doing the rounds online, apparently causing havoc in neighbourhoods and towns across the country. Fortunately, we can rule out the issue, which is essentially an AI prompt that places the character into images/videos of familiar places. To be clear, the Cat in the Hat was not in your driveway while you were out and he is not currently hiding out in Curracloe."
Previous AI hoaxes
This is not the first time police have had to issue warnings regarding fake AI trends. Last year, UK police became involved after a viral prank involving inviting a fake "AI homeless man" into homes led to a string of police calls. Dorset Police revealed they had received a call from one "extremely concerned parent" who was fooled by their daughter into believing there was a man in their family home, only for the cops to discover it was an AI prank.
A spokesperson said: "If you receive a message and pictures similar to the above antics from friends or family, please attempt to check it isn't a prank before dialling 999."
