AI-generated monkey hoax had NJ cops going bananas searching for loose primates
The viral images of monkeys were likely AI-generated, police said. NJ 1015
New Jersey residents went bananas this week over viral photos claiming to show wild monkeys running loose in Newark — but police now say the whole thing was a high-tech hoax.
The widely shared images appeared to show groups of monkeys scampering around the Georgia King Village apartment complex, including one shot of two rummaging through a dumpster. The posts sparked alarmed calls to authorities and sent Newark police on an urgent search Thursday morning, according to Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, as reported by PIX11.
Officers combed the area and nearby buildings but came up empty-handed. “Officers have not located any monkeys,” Miranda said, adding that animal control received a similar false report the day before. Officials concluded that “any photos or videos posted on social media regarding this incident are likely AI-generated,” calling the entire episode a hoax.
Local workers and residents expressed frustration at the false alarm. Hariette Guity, who works near the scene, said a coworker warned her to be cautious after seeing the fake posts. “Use AI for the right things, not something like this,” she told News12 New Jersey. “Because when something real happens, officers might hesitate, thinking it’s another fake.”
Resident Richard Chapman agreed, saying the prank wasted valuable resources. “Having the police come over here for something that’s not even real — it’s wasting their time,” he said. “We should use AI responsibly and not make things bigger than they are.”
The phony monkey scare follows a growing trend of AI-generated hoaxes spreading across social media. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have recently warned about the “AI Homeless Man Prank,” a viral TikTok challenge where users create fake images of a homeless man appearing outside their homes — and then falsely report it to police.
Officials say the Newark incident is under investigation, but so far, no actual monkeys — or pranksters — have been found.
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