‘Internet Trolls Terrorize Welsh Village with Fake Aldi Listing’

Well, the actual news isn’t as intense as that headline may suggest, but it’s still odd enough (and creatively written) to merit a post.  To quote:

The quiet Welsh village of Cyffylliog in Denbighshire is the last place you’d expect to see a crowd of eager bargain-hunters—especially ones staring perplexedly at an empty field. But thanks to a prank on Google Maps, the tiny community has become an unlikely hotspot for confused tourists and delivery drivers, all searching for a mythical Aldi supermarket.

The debacle began when an unknown jokester placed a fake Aldi location in the heart of the village on Google Maps. Ever since, a steady stream of hopeful shoppers has been arriving, guided by their smartphones, only to find themselves standing in the middle of a grassy field, miles away from the nearest checkout lane.

The chaos reached new heights last week when a milk tanker, also misdirected by Google Maps, became stuck on a narrow village lane while attempting to locate the fictitious store. Residents were left with blocked roads for hours as the tanker had to be carefully maneuvered out, leaving locals both frustrated and incredulous.

“It’s one thing having tourists turn up looking for Aldi,” said longtime resident Dafydd Hughes. “But when you’ve got a lorry full of milk clogging up the road, you start to question what’s happening in the world.”