Police have moved to reassure a worried community after unsettling images appeared to show an unknown figure dressed as the Cat in the Hat loitering on streets and in driveways. The pictures first emerged in Limerick, Ireland, and quickly spread online, alarming locals.
Gardaí confirm images are fake
Gardaí officials confirmed the pictures are not real and were artificially generated by an unknown prankster. The images first appeared on Facebook, although they were rumoured at the time to have originated on Snapchat, and were accompanied by false reports that police were investigating the creepy cartoon-like figure.
The hoax was not limited to Limerick. Fake images of the black-and-white feline also emerged in Glanmire, Cork; Cahir, Tipperary; Curracloe, Wexford; and Broadford Park in Dublin, adding to the online hysteria.
Police statement on the hoax
One Irish police department issued a strongly-worded statement to reassure locals. A spokesperson for Wexford Garda 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 prank warnings
This is not the first time police have had to address fake AI trends. Last year, UK police became involved after a viral prank involving a fake "AI homeless man" led to a string of police calls from people fooled by the hoax.
Dorset Police revealed they had received a call from one "extremely concerned parent" who was tricked by their daughter into thinking there was a man in their family home while she was alone, only for officers to discover the whole thing was an AI prank.
A spokesperson for the force 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."
