The Round Rock Police Department is alerting the community to a viral social media trend that has resulted in the misuse of emergency services.

The trend, circulating on TikTok and other platforms, involves teenagers staging fake home invasions by sending alarming text messages and AI-generated images to their parents. These images are designed to appear realistic, often depicting a homeless man sitting on a couch, standing in the kitchen, or eating food inside the home. The intent is to create fear and panic, which has led parents to call 9-1-1 under the false belief that their child is in danger.

Over the past weekend, Round Rock officers responded to two calls related to this trend, both of which were confirmed to be hoaxes. While no one was harmed, making false reports like these can tie up emergency resources and delay responses to legitimate calls for service.

Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to speak with their children about the risks and potential legal consequences of participating in deceptive online trends. Knowingly making a false report to law enforcement is a criminal offense under Texas Penal Code 42.06.

By working together, we can protect valuable resources, reduce unnecessary risks, and keep our community safe.