The Newshound

Scammers send owners AI-faked photos of their missing cats and threaten to kill the pets unless reward cash is paid

An AI-generated picture of Buddy (left) and a genuine photograph of him, sent to Stephanie Young after she questioned a scammer who threatened to sell or murder her missing cat unless she paid.
An AI-generated picture of Buddy (left) and a genuine photograph of him, sent to Stephanie Young after she questioned a scammer who threatened to sell or murder her missing cat unless she paid.

Fraudsters are threatening to kill pets unless desperate owners hand over cash, using AI tools to generate convincing fake photos of missing cats and fabricated stories about finding them. Stephanie Young, a foster carer from Birmingham, was sent AI-faked images of her missing cat Buddy and hit with threats to 'sell or murder' him when she questioned the scammer. Nearly £1.3 billion was stolen by fraudsters in the UK in 2025 as AI-enabled crime surges.

Scammers demand Apple gift cards rather than cash, making payments harder to trace or reverse.

Neena Chauhan spotted a deepfake after the fraudster took a photo from her missing poster and digitally placed Creed in a garden setting.

Victims report scammers posing as deaconesses or carers with autistic children to trigger sympathy before turning abusive.

MoreDaily Mail NewsScammers turn to AI to generate fake pictures of missing cats in bid to fleece owners of reward cashBBC News - TechScammers using AI-generated images of missing pets to demand rewardsBBCScammers using AI-generated images of missing pets to demand reward money - BBCITVCat carer from Birmingham targeted by AI scammers after pet went missing
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