People looking for missing pets in the UK have been targeted by scammers using AI-generated images to pretend they have found the animals, then demanding money and threatening to harm them if owners refuse to pay.
Stephanie Young, a foster carer from Birmingham, said she believed a woman had found her cat Buddy after receiving an image that appeared to show him in a garden. The woman, who identified herself as Melissa, initially asked for a reward, then insisted on 100 Apple gift cards rather than cash. After Young questioned whether the images were genuine, she received threats to “sell or murder” Buddy. The cat went missing from her garden in September last year and has still not been found, 13 months later.
Cam Chauhan, from Wednesbury, said she received what looked like an exact picture of her missing cat Creed nine months after he disappeared in July last year. The person who contacted her demanded a £200 Apple gift card and would not meet until the cards had been bought and sent by text. Chauhan refused. She said the episode was deeply upsetting and that she is still waiting for Creed.
Sarah Robinson, from Northampton, was contacted two weeks after her cat Cookie went missing. A man who claimed to have the cat sent Robinson an image, then demanded £40,000 and sent a money-transfer link. When she refused, he threatened to kill Cookie. Robinson said the threat left her worried for the cat’s safety.
All three owners reported their experiences to Report Fraud, which is run by City of London Police. The organisation advises people to meet anyone claiming to have found their pet before handing over money and to remain alert to possible fraud.
Dr Rasha Kassem, a senior academic at Aston University, said AI had made it easier for criminals to create convincing material. She advised people not to rush into sending money and said they should gather information and report threats to the authorities. Kassem also warned against engaging with people who demand payment while threatening to harm pets.
Pawboost, a free platform for tracking missing pets, recommends asking for specific proof, such as a short video or video call showing a distinctive feature. It also advises arranging to meet in a safe, public place and asking questions about details only the finder would know, such as the pet’s collar or personality.
Sources: BBC News UK.