A desperate family were targeted by fraudsters who used AI to make it look as though their missing dog was having emergency surgery.
The Cousens family, who live in Florida, say scammers tried to swindle them out of $2,800 (£2,100) after making it appear like their pet had been hit by a car.
Their nightmare began when Archer, their Beagle mix, escaped from their back garden earlier this month.
The family posted a photo of their pet on Facebook, asking for help to bring him home.
Shortly afterwards, they received a call from someone claiming the dog had been hit by a car and needed emergency surgery, demanding thousands of dollars to cover the cost and sending photos of Archer on an operating table in a veterinary clinic.
'We go from elation that we found him to just dread that oh my gosh he's dying somewhere to okay great, he needs emergency surgery,' Bill Cosens told Fox 35 Orlando.
However, a closer look at the photos revealed concerning discrepancies - including X-ray images dated to 2022 and irregularities in Archer's fur.
'This isn't Archer,' Mr Cosens said. 'This is AI. It isn't obvious when you're distraught.'
Sharing the ordeal on Facebook, another family member called Allie Cosens wrote: 'Scam alert. After reporting my dog missing, I received a call saying he had been hit by a car on a nearby street and taken to an emergency vet for surgery.
'The surgery would cost $2,746 (£2,033) and I could pay by a variety of different methods.
'When I mentioned cash, the person emailed me a barcode I could use to pay at CVS.
'This sounded very convincing at first and they even sent pictures that, upon closer look, appear to be Photoshopped/AI.
'Be careful of people preying on those worried about their lost pets!'
Further investigations revealed the address provided for the veterinary clinic was in fact Deltona City Hall - which further raised the family's suspicions.
Eventually, it was a neighbour who tracked down the dog to a nearby location and Archer was returned safely home.
He was unharmed but 'physically, emotionally and mentally just worn out'.
How to spot a pet scammer
- Be sceptical of any messages or calls from unknown numbers
- Never succumb to pressure to send payment quickly
- Take a breath and verify information through a separate channel - for example by calling the veterinary practice directly
- Treat any photo, video or audio clip as potentially fake
- Look for physical inconsistencies in pictures, such as blurred edges
- AI can also struggle to create paws and unusual textures
- Ask for a 'real-time' photo next to a specific object or the date written on a piece of paper
Mr Cosens said he was aware of reward-seeking scams for missing pets but this particular tactic felt especially cruel.
'I've heard of people saying we got your dog we want a reward for returning him, but to tell us he's injured and needs surgery...this is pretty low,' he said.
The scam is thought to be part of a growing trend in which criminals search for posts about lost pets on social media to find vulnerable owners.
They then take the pictures and use AI to create fake images, usually showing the animal injured or at an emergency vet, to pressure people into paying quickly.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is investigating this case.
Thomas Sinicki, a scam protection expert from NordProtect, has previously shared tips to help owners guard against scammers.
He advises people to be sceptical of any messages received from unknown numbers - especially when they create a sense of urgency around quick payment.
He also suggests taking a breath and verifying information through a separate channel - for example by calling a veterinary practice directly.
Finally, he advises people to be increasingly sceptical or images or other types of 'proof' sent by unknown contacts.
'In our new reality, you can no longer trust your eyes or ears,' he told Popular Science. 'Treat any photo, video, or audio clip in an unsolicited message as potentially fake.'
Red flags to look out for in images include physical inconsistencies, for example blurred edges, paws or textures.
It can also be worth asking for a 'real-time' photo, asking the person to send a picture of the pet next to a specific object or a piece of paper with today's date.