A recent trend of creepy clown-related threats and sightings could be contributing to coulrophobia – also known as a fear of clowns.

Reports of residents seeing costumed characters lurking in the dark are becoming all too common. It’s also blurring the lines about how many of the sightings are actually real.

"My opinion, it's just a bunch of copycats from up in the States," said Sydney resident Jermaine Williams.

And he may have a point. Threats have been made both internationally and close to the Maritimes.

It has many on edge.

"I am terrified of clowns,” said Sydney resident Alicia Steele. “I've always been terrified of clowns, so I'm kind of scared."

Scary stories have been told since ancient times. Now, social media is responsible for fueling the fear.

"Online is where we do our legend-telling nowadays,” said professor of folklore Ian Brodie. “And as much as we do it face-to-face, we do it online."

In reality, this “evil clown” trend is nothing new. Social media researcher Giles Crouch says it has been happening off and on since the 1980s.

"Out of Brazil, there was a group of people who would dress up as a clown and they'd go into public parking lots, and as people came along, they would really scare them. They'd run out with a chainsaw," said Crouch.

In Cape Breton, there have been reports of clowns running in front of cars. Threats have also been made to Sydney-area schools, leading to a 12-year-old girl being prosecuted by police.

"Essentially what it's turned into is kind of a real-life online game, and it's a game that has relatively low risks, and relatively high thrill rewards," said social media advisor Marc Botte.

Groups have been popping up on social media with names like “Cape Breton Clown Hunters” and “Cape Breton Clown Sightings”.

Much of the reaction has been what the “clowns” are trying to achieve. With Halloween less than a month away and with the sun setting earlier, many signs turn to the element of fear.

"We have the war on terror, we have Donald Trump using fear mongering as his main message, and we have this pervasive sense of fear in our society," said Crouch.

"It ties in to what we think about the world anyway – that it's a dangerous place, that it's filled with psychopaths, that strangers can't be trusted," said Brodie.

Police are also taking the threats seriously. Two teenagers are facing charges in connection with alleged threats involving clowns at schools in Colchester County.

A 17-year-old boy from Stewiacke, N.S., and a 16-year-old girl from Shubenacadie, N.S., in connection with Facebook posts threatening several local schools.

Both teens are facing mischief charges in connection with the investigation and will appear in court at a later date.

On Tuesday, Halifax Regional Police responded to Halifax West High School after a photo posted on social media appeared to show a clown standing on a sidewalk outside the school.

The photo was posted to an Instagram account called Halifax Clowns, whose biography states: "We stalking you so keep your eyes open. We ain't killing we just creeping."

Police searched the school, but nothing suspicious was found.

And on Wednesday, a 24-year-old man was arrested after it was reported by witnesses that he grabbed at the clothing of a young boy while the boy and a group of youths were walking along School Street in Clarks Harbour, N.S.

The man was wearing a clown mask and t-shirt with a clown on it at the time of the incident.

"We have received similar complaints from concerned citizens regarding this type of incident", says Cpl. Jennifer Clarke in a news release. "If people feel they have been threatened or intimidated, then they need to reach out to their local police." 

While there's no denying people are fascinated now, Crouch predicts it won't last long.

"It's going to peeter out. It's a trend. It's a fad," he said.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald.