A fabricated image of a venomous Gaboon viper circulating on social media triggered widespread alarm throughout Santa Ana, Orange County, prompting police intervention. The artificial intelligence-generated photograph sparked public concern about potential wildlife threats in the residential area. Authorities quickly investigated the hoax, revealing the image's artificial origin through digital analysis. This incident highlights growing challenges law enforcement faces when combating AI-generated misinformation that can cause unnecessary panic and drain emergency resources responding to false alarms.

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