Scammers using AI-generated images of missing pets to demand reward money

Stephanie Young said she was shocked anyone could be “so evil” after receiving threats to murder her cat, Buddy

When Stephanie Young’s cat Buddy went missing from her garden in September last year, she flooded pet rescue sites and social media groups with information about him.

Her hopes were raised when an image of him was sent through by a woman named Melissa, who claimed to have fed her cat and wanted reward money for her autistic grandchildren.

The foster carer from Birmingham was “100% certain” she had found her cat and remembered thinking Buddy had picked a lovely garden to sit in as she got money out of the bank to pay for his return.

Within hours, she had agreed to meet Melissa nearby to collect him, but the individual never turned up, refused a cash payment and pushed for 100 Apple gift cards as a reward.

Threats to “sell or murder” her pet soon followed when she discovered the images of Buddy were AI-generated and questioned the woman’s authenticity.

Young is one of a growing number of people affected by an online scam where fraudsters threaten to kill missing pets after owners refuse to pay hundreds of pounds for their return.

They prey on owners by using AI to fake images of their pets and conjuring up detailed backstories and fake evidence to claim them as found, before bombarding victims with abuse.

Image source, Handout/ Stephanie

The AI-generated picture of Buddy sent to Young (left) and a genuine picture of him (right)

The death threats left Young feeling “upset and angry at how anybody could be so evil”.

“I’m not going to deny that every inch of your body wants that cat back,” she said.

“They can hook you, the more they ask the more you think ‘I better do it’.”

It is now thirteen months since Buddy went missing and he has still not been found.

Image source, Cam Chauhan

Cam Chauhan said she really missed her cat Creed, who would sleep all day

Young’s experience is similar to that of Cam Chauhan, who received demands for a £200 Apple gift card nine months after her cat Creed went missing in July last year.

The supermarket worker from Wednesbury had been sent an “exact picture” of him sitting in a back garden and instantly believed he had been found, describing the day as an “emotional rollercoaster”.

“I started crying, grabbed my cat bag from the garage and said, ‘let’s go get my cat back,'” she said.

Image source, Cam Chauhan

Chauhan’s scammer asked for a £200 Apple gift card for their autistic children

Chauhan was “jumping for joy” until her daughters raised concerns the images could be fake and about handing over money before Creed was returned.

A meeting point was agreed with the scammer to get the pet back, but the individual refused to appear until gift cards were purchased and sent over text, a suggestion which Chauhan turned down.

“We just went back home. It was very upsetting,” she said. “I’ve been waiting ever since.”

The 55-year-old added anyone that had lost their pet “would do anything” to get them back, but to “hand money over and be scammed is just not right”.

Image source, Sarah Robinson

Sarah Robinson received threats after a scammer demanded £40,000 to return her cat

Sarah Robinson, from Northampton, felt hopeful when she was contacted by a man named Kherson H claiming to have her cat Cookie two weeks after she went missing.

Speaking to the individual over the phone, he seemed “vague in location and stumbled on his words”, but Robinson did not initially doubt an image he sent of Cookie outside a window.

After speaking to Kherson for a while, he demanded £40,000 to return her cat and sent a money transfer link, which Robinson refused. He then threatened to kill Cookie without payment.

The threat left her “really, really worried” for Cookie’s safety.

“It’s a very cruel thing to do,” she said. “It’s horrible, because you know it’s not real but you’re terrified it might be.”

Image source, Sarah Robinson

Scammers sent Sarah Robinson AI-generated pictures of her cat appearing to be outside a window

All three owners have reported what happened to Report Fraud, external, which is run by City of London Police.

The organisation advises people to arrange a meeting to see their pet in person before handing over any money, and to “stay alert” to criminals.

Aston University senior academic Dr Rasha Kassem said AI now played a “major role” in online fraud because things that used to be technically difficult were now “super easy, accessible and free”.

“Just because it looks genuine, doesn’t make it real,” she said.

Kassem said she was concerned about the rise in AI-generated fraud because there was a lack of public awareness and guidance on how to stay safe.

She explained criminals liked to create a sense of urgency and advised victims against rushing into sending money and instead taking their time to think.

“I do not encourage anyone to engage with criminals who are requesting money and threatening to harm pets,” she added. “Collect as much information about them and report it to the authorities.”

What to do if your pet goes missing

Pawboost, a free online platform that helps track down missing pets, said “staying cautious” would help protect owners.

To stay safe while searching, it recommended:

• Arranging to meet in a safe, public place if someone claims to have your pet, so you can confirm their identity in person

Arranging to meet in a safe, public place if someone claims to have your pet, so you can confirm their identity in person

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