How a LocationPrank link works

The creator selects a public place

The generator can search public OpenStreetMap place data or accept a click on the Esri map. That action creates a latitude, longitude, zoom level, and readable label. These values belong to the fictional scene and do not come from the recipient.

The configuration becomes a short link

LocationPrank stores the chosen place, reveal image reference, optional message, phone-form or direct start mode, creation time, and a random link identifier. The URL contains only that random identifier. It does not contain a phone number or the viewer's coordinates.

The viewer sees a short simulation

Opening the link either shows a local-only phone field or starts the animated map scan directly. The homepage demo uses the same local-only rule and clears the number before the animation begins. The animation uses the creator's stored place or the site's fixed demo pin. It does not request browser permissions and it does not claim to be an official phone, map, police, or emergency service.

The reveal ends the joke

Every generated prank ends with the same clear statement: this was a joke and no location was tracked. The creator's custom message can appear underneath, but it cannot remove the no-tracking disclosure.

What the view counter means

A generated record has a simple count of how many times its link was opened. The count is not connected to an IP address, phone number, person, or device profile. It cannot tell the creator who opened the link.

Create a harmless location prank link or read the full privacy explanation.