A British woman was so scared when a teenager jumped out in front of her dressed as a clown that she reportedly went into premature labour.
Posting anonymously on a community Facebook page, a friend of the woman reported that the mother and baby were doing well despite the fright.
"Thanks for the concern about my friend. She was eight months pregnant and had a stupid 17-year-old kid jump out on her dressed as a clown," said the post.
"The baby came early but mother and baby are doing good. Please please think, old people and pregnant ladies aren't the best to scare. It's a nonsense craze that needs stopping."
The post has caused a lot of concern from other pregnant women who are worried a clown sighting could cause them to go into early labour too.
"I'm 38 weeks pregnant and petrified of clowns I think I'd die on the spot," wrote one commenter.
"I hope this doesn't happen to me and I'm 6 months pregnant, I know this sounds stupid but I daren't even stand at my back door at night and let my own dog out for a wee. I just thought it was a Facebook rumour for a start but then I kept seeing all these vids and more posts and now people round here are doing it," wrote another.
The creepy clown craze has been sweeping the globe, and with Halloween around the corner there are fears the trend will reach fever pitch.
The first sightings of clowns in Australia began last month and it seems the crazes is taking off. Police have warned that they will not tolerate intimidating or antisocial behaviour.
Perth kids' entertainer 'Connie the Clown' says she is terrified of being targeted by anti-clown vigilantes.
Speaking to Fairfax Media, Connie said that she had nothing but distain for the creepy clowns who have been terrifying the public.
"They should be arrested and jailed," she said.
"These people are terrifying people ... they are psychopaths.
"What if you did that to an old person? You would give them a heart attack."