Mysterious 'Help' plea on Google Earth sparks concern and goes viral
Mysterious 'Help' plea on Google Earth sparks concern and goes viral
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Mysterious pleas for "help" at an empty lot seen on Google Earth have sparked concern online after going viral. Google Earth images from downtown Los Angeles showed the words "help," "trafico," and "LAPD" sprawled in huge letters on the dirt. Images of the messages went viral online with a post from Simon Goddek gaining 63million views alone since being shared to X/Twitter on January 26.
The post led many to question who wrote the messages and why with some being concerned there was human trafficking involved. Conspiracy theorists also soon picked up on the images and shared them among their followers. While concerns were heightened online, police have been unable to verify any crimes connected to the messages. An LAPD spokesperson told The LA Times they had responded to an "unknown trouble" call near Mission Road and the 101 Freeway on Sunday morning.
"Upon arrival, officers conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence of any criminal activity or threat in the area," the statement said. Officers added the messages were from 2023. A helicopter crew with news outlet KTLA found the words were still at the property on Monday afternoon. The LAPD added it had notified the Union Pacific Railroad about the messages.
One person on X/Twitter said they travelled to the area and found homeless people in the area. The person claimed a homeless man had been writing the messages for several years. The LAPD Central Division said in a post shared to X/Twitter on Monday that officers had spoken to a person involved in writing the messages. "We've had several different contacts with the individual you speak of," it said in response to the comment about the signs.
