On New Year’s Eve, a shocking deception fooled thousands of people into showing up at Birmingham’s Centenary Square, allured by fake claims of a fireworks display. Social media scammers misled the public into believing a grand pyrotechnic show was set to mark the occasion. However, when the clock struck midnight, attendees were left in shock as there was no event at all.

Videos and images flooded the internet showing a sea of people waiting eagerly for the festivities, only to find themselves let down. The West Midlands Police quickly confirmed the rumors were false, assuring the public no fireworks were planned. A spokesperson from the social media page Birmingham Updates, one of the sources for the hoax, admitted to reviewing their content guidelines after the incident.

Before the event, local authorities, including Birmingham Superintendent Emlyn Richards, had urged citizens not to travel to the area, warning them the event was a scam. Despite these warnings, thousands still gathered, resulting in a viral reaction on social media. Some joked about the situation, while others criticized the lack of security measures.

This is not the first time such a hoax has caused chaos; a similar incident occurred last Halloween in Dublin. The perpetrators, a Pakistan-based company, later apologized for the mistake.