Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, and anyone who’s experienced it knows how quickly you’d drop everything if someone called to say they’d found your missing dog or cat. Unfortunately, scammers have learned to exploit that desperation, and AI is making their tricks even more convincing.
A disturbing new scam is targeting pet owners across the UK, with criminals using AI-generated images to pretend they’ve found missing animals. They then demand money for their return, sometimes going as far as threatening to kill the pets if the owners refuse to pay. According to a BBC report, several pet owners have already experienced these attacks, with scammers using convincing photographs, emotional stories, and increasingly aggressive messages to pressure them into paying.
A happy reunion that never actually happens
One victim, Stephanie Young from Birmingham, had been searching for her cat Buddy after he disappeared from her garden. When someone contacted her with what appeared to be a photograph of Buddy, she thought her search was finally over. The person claimed to have found the cat and wanted a reward, supposedly to help her grandchildren. Young was even prepared to meet and pay to get Buddy back. But things quickly became suspicious when the supposed rescuer refused to meet and instead demanded Apple gift cards.
After Young questioned the photographs, which turned out to be AI-generated, the messages became threatening. The scammer claimed Buddy would be harmed or sold unless she paid. And she wasn’t alone. Another owner, Cam Chauhan, received a convincing image of her missing cat Creed, only to discover that the person behind it wanted a £200 Apple gift card before arranging a reunion. In an even more extreme case, someone contacted Sarah Robinson claiming to have her missing cat, Cookie. The person demanded an astonishing £40,000 and threatened to kill the animal when she refused.
AI is making an already cruel scam harder to spot
What’s particularly troubling is how little information scammers actually need. Missing pet announcements often include photographs, descriptions, and contact details, giving criminals plenty of material to work with. With AI, they can create images that appear to show an animal somewhere new, making their claims seem believable without ever having seen the pet. Experts warn that these scams often rely on urgency and emotional pressure, leaving owners little time to question what they’re being told.
So, if someone claims to have found your missing pet, ask for a live video call or footage showing something distinctive about the animal. Also arrange to verify the pet in person, preferably somewhere safe, before offering any payment. Most importantly, don’t send gift cards or money because someone is threatening you. Save the messages and report the incident to the authorities. After all, finding a missing pet should be a moment of relief, not another reason to worry about whether someone is telling you the truth.