Local folk reckon a man is a clown after dressing up as one to frighten people.
It follows a nationwide craze which has seen people dressed as creepy clowns lurking around streets at night and staring into house windows.
Users on social media sites Facebook and Twitter posted that someone dressed as a clown was standing at bus stops in Barnsley holding balloons, outside people's homes and knocking on windows.
On Tuesday a 'Barnsley Clown' Facebook page was set up and the sightings come just days after a sinister-looking clown was spotted in Sheffield and Doncaster, and a few months after the 'Northampton Clown' made headlines around the world.
According to internet reports, the clown in Barnsley has been seen on streets in Goldthorpe, Darfield, Wombwell, Lundwood and Ardsley.
Within 24 hours of the 'Barnsley Clown' Facebook page being set up, it had more than 2,000 'likes'.
The man claiming to be the 'Barnsley Clown' posted: "I'm not out to tap on people's windows or carry weapons.
"Rumours have started about the Barnsley Clown and some are getting out of hand. People who have seen me know I'm out for a laugh."
The clown sightings prompted a flurry of comments from Facebook users. Some slammed the clown's attempts at 'having a laugh' while others encouraged him to continue.
South Yorkshire Police said it is aware of number of reports circulating on social media of a clown being seen on the streets of South Yorkshire.
Det Chf Insp Mark Wilkie said: "There are plenty of clowns in Barnsley but we have not had any incidents reported relating to these types of clowns."
