A Florida family has warned others about a scam that used AI-generated images to try to extort nearly $2,800 from them after their dog went missing. The incident began on Saturday night in Deltona, when Bill Cosens said his Beagle mix, Archer, escaped from the backyard. The family posted a photo of Archer on Facebook, asking for help to find him.
By Sunday morning, the family received a call from someone claiming the dog had been hit by a car and needed urgent surgery. The caller demanded $2,800 upfront and sent photos that appeared to show Archer on an operating table in a veterinary clinic. However, closer inspection revealed inconsistencies, including irregularities in the dog’s fur and an X-ray dated 2022.
“This isn’t Archer. This is AI,” Cosens said. “It wasn’t obvious when you’re distraught.” The final red flag was that the address provided for the supposed clinic was actually Deltona City Hall. Realising it was a ruse, Cosens turned to his neighbour, who claimed he had seen a woman pick up Archer and drive away on the night he disappeared.
The neighbour tracked the woman to a nearby location, and Archer was returned home safely on Thursday morning. Cosens said the dog is “physically, emotionally, mentally just worn out.” The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case, which is part of a growing trend of scammers monitoring social media lost-pet posts to target vulnerable owners.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Cosens expressed gratitude for his neighbour’s help. “I have to remind myself, as much as I’ve lost faith in humanity as a whole, then I look at my neighbour and go without him, I wouldn’t have my dog back,” he said.
