AI Photo Scam: Couple Nearly Loses $2,000 After Scammers Use AI Image of Missing Dog

The Disappearance of Hazel

• 🐶 A German Shepherd puppy named Hazel escaped through a hole in her backyard fence, as captured by a security camera.
• 💔 Her owner, Dennis Marita, a military veteran and founder of Always a Warrior K9, immediately began searching for her.
• 📱 Dennis posted about the missing dog on social media platforms like the Next Door app to enlist community help.

The Deceptive Phone Call

• 📞 Around 11:00 PM, Dennis received a call from someone claiming to be a police sergeant from St. Pete police.
• 🚨 The caller stated that a German Shepherd matching Hazel's description had been hit by a car and provided a fake incident report number and exact address.
• 🖼️ Dennis believes scammers used artificial intelligence to generate a convincing image of Hazel, which was sent to him via text to verify it was his dog.

The Scam Unfolds

• 💸 Dennis sent $1,900 through the app Zelle, but the digital payment service flagged the transaction.
• ➡️ The scammers then directed him to pick up Hazel the next morning from a specific animal services location, providing an exact address and phone number to increase legitimacy.
• 🏠 The following morning, Hazel unexpectedly appeared in Dennis's yard unharmed, revealing the scam.

Lessons Learned

• ⚠️ Dennis was able to get Zelle to stop the payment, but he emphasizes how real and legitimate the scam felt at the time.
• 💡 He hopes his experience will encourage others to think twice before sending money when faced with similar urgent situations.