Scary Clown Prank

Dufferin County, ON (OPP - Dufferin Detachment) Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) across the Central Region have had at least three reports of the Scary Clown prank which has been started recently on social media.


Incidents in the United States have included threats on social media platforms which for example include Instagram, Snapchat and I Messenger. Some threats have indicated that scary clown(s) are going to attend school(s) or public areas and bring harm or injury to members of the public. There have also been incidents where person(s) dressed as clowns have been reported attending schools and public areas and in some instances chasing persons.

Police remind citizens that they should consider the following:

- To scare children or anyone for that matter in parks near schools or in public areas is clearly wrong.

- It could cause a false unnecessary lock down of a school, private or government building.

- If a weapon was brandished, persons may be charged criminally for Weapons Dangerous to the Public Peace, Assault with a Weapon or Threatening.

If persons cause police officers to engage in false investigations that unnecessarily utilize police resources, they may also be charged with Public Mischief under the Criminal Code.