Scammers using AI-generated images of missing pets to demand reward money
Owners says threats to kill their cats unless they sent money left them angry and terrified.
Stephanie Young had her cat Buddy go missing from her garden in September last year. A woman named Melissa offered to help by sending a photo of the cat, claiming she had fed it and wanted reward money for her autistic grandchildren. Stephanie was convinced this was her cat, and even went to meet Melissa nearby to collect him. However, Melissa never showed up and instead demanded 100 Apple gift cards as payment.
Threats followed, with Melissa saying she would sell or murder Buddy if Stephanie did not comply. Stephanie's situation is part of a growing trend of online scams using AI-generated images of missing pets to demand reward money. Fraudsters use AI to create fake images, stories, and evidence to trick pet owners into thinking their pet has been found.
In response, the pets are bombarded with demands for money, often in the form of Apple gift cards, and threats of harm or death if payment is not made. This has led to a surge in fraud cases in the UK, with over £1.3 billion stolen by scammers in 2025. Victims like Stephanie and Cam Chauhan have reported these incidents to Report Fraud, which advises meeting in person before paying and staying alert to criminals.
Dr. Rasha Kassem, a senior academic at Aston University, warns that AI has made online fraud easier than ever, urging people to stay cautious and not rush into payments.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
