“We've found your cat, now send money”: scammers are using AI to fake photos of missing pets and demanding ransom from owners searching on social media

What happened

In early November 2026 the cybersecurity company Malwarebytes warned about a scam that targets people at their most vulnerable: owners whose dog or cat has gone missing. Citing a BBC report, it described how criminals are using artificial intelligence to extract money. In the same days local TV stations in the US reported similar cases.

How the scam works

It all starts with a missing pet appeal. The owner posts a photo of the pet, its name and their phone number on social media or in a neighbourhood group. The scammer finds the appeal, messages or calls, and claims to have the animal. To make the claim believable, they send an image created by AI from the photo in the appeal.

The photo looks real

Today's AI tools can produce, in minutes, an image of a familiar dog sitting in a stranger's car or a cat lying on an unfamiliar sofa. The coat colour, face and collar all match the photo in the appeal. Someone who has not slept for several nights while searching for their pet is in no state to spot a fake at that moment.

Relief, then fear

Malwarebytes highlights the psychology behind the scam. First the owner feels huge relief: the pet has been found. Straight afterwards comes fear: money is needed at once, or the animal will be sold, not returned or hurt. Two strong emotions in quick succession make it hard to think clearly.

The excuses for asking for money

The excuses vary. Sometimes it is a “reward” for finding the pet that must be paid in advance. Sometimes it is payment for “urgent treatment” or “an operation” because the animal has supposedly been hit by a car. Some scammers refuse to meet until they have been paid, or openly threaten the pet.

Two cases from the BBC report

The BBC spoke to two people targeted by the scam. Both were contacted after posting a missing pet message on social media. They were sent pictures of their beloved pets and asked for a ransom for their safe return. The scammers were counting on the owners paying without asking questions.

What Malwarebytes is seeing

The company backed up the BBC report with its own data. Over the past month, users of its scam-checking service anonymously submitted three distinct types of pet-related scam. That shows these are not isolated cases and that the scam is spreading in different countries.

Three types of scam

These are the patterns experts see most often:

1. A “We found your missing cat” message with photos of the animal.
2. A voicemail about a found cat with a number to call back.
3. A call claiming to be from a humane society: the cat supposedly needs emergency surgery, and the caller demands several payments in a row through a payment app.

Scammers posing as a shelter

In King County, Washington State, the animal services agency warned of another version. Scammers copy phone numbers from missing pet flyers, call owners and pretend to be shelter staff. They say the pet has been found but needs emergency surgery, and send an AI-generated image of the animal on an operating table.

Nearly $1,900 lost

In Florida a couple from St Petersburg told a TV station how they nearly sent $1,900 to a scammer. Their puppy had run off, they posted an appeal and soon received a photo that looked like their dog. At the last moment they had doubts and did not send the money. Now they are warning other owners.

Canada: an early warning

Similar cases have happened before. In Guelph, Ontario, police described in 2025 how a woman sent $50 to a man who claimed to have found her cat. She received an AI-generated photo and a demand for more money. At that point she refused and went to the police.

Why threats are a bad sign

Malwarebytes has an important message for owners who are being threatened. If someone says they will harm the pet, it almost always means they do not have it and have no idea where it is. A genuine finder usually wants to return the dog or cat, not haggle or make threats.

Signs of a fake photo

Security experts advise looking closely at the details. AI-generated animals often have overly glossy or unnatural eyes, odd paws, a blurred background or extra details on the collar. The background may not match what the “finder” is telling you. But do not rely on your eyes alone: AI is improving fast.

A secret marking

The most reliable check is to keep one distinctive feature to yourself. Do not mention the scar on the ear, the white patch on the tummy or an unusual claw in your appeal. If someone says they have found your pet, ask for a photo of that exact feature or a description of it. A scammer will not be able to provide it.

Do not pay upfront

Do not send money until you have seen your pet with your own eyes. A genuine finder will agree to meet or to hand the animal in at a rescue centre or vet practice. If you have promised a reward, pay it once you are sure it is your dog or cat. A demand for immediate payment is the biggest warning sign.

Check the vet practice yourself

If you are told your pet is at a vet practice, look up that practice's contact details yourself and phone them directly. Do not call the number in the message or use any payment link. Vet practices do not ask strangers for advance payment by messaging app.

Meet somewhere busy

If you arrange a handover, choose a busy place in daylight: a supermarket car park, outside a police station, the entrance to a vet practice. Take a friend with you. That protects not just your money but your safety. Some towns have designated safe spots near police stations for this kind of meeting.

Fewer photos in public

Police in Central Florida advise against posting too many pictures of a missing pet publicly. The more photos from different angles, the easier it is to create a convincing fake. One or two clear images are enough for an appeal; show the rest to volunteers and rescue centres in person.

Get a second opinion

When a pet is missing it is hard to think calmly. So show a suspicious message to a friend or relative before you reply. Someone on the outside will spot inconsistencies more quickly. Many scam-checking services and the police can also help you judge whether a message looks like fraud.

Why victims pay

Fraud experts explain that the scam does not work because people are naive. Losing a pet is extremely stressful, like worrying about a family member. Owners often cannot sleep, blame themselves and would do anything to get their pet back. Scammers pick exactly this moment and rush people so they have no time to think or ask for advice.

What volunteers say

Volunteer groups that help find lost pets have long dealt with fake “finders”. In the past these were calls without photos or requests to pay for “travel” to the owner. Now AI helps the scammers and the fraud is more convincing. Group admins advise discussing every suspicious message with experienced volunteers before replying to a stranger.

How to write an appeal

A good missing pet appeal includes one or two clear photos, where and when the pet went missing, its colour and size, and a way to get in touch. Do not give your home address or list every distinguishing feature. It is better to use a number you could change if needed, or to be contacted through volunteers. That keeps your chances of a quick reunion high and lowers the risk of meeting scammers.

A microchip is the best protection

A microchip will not stop scammers, but it greatly increases the chance of your pet being returned honestly. Any vet practice or rescue centre will scan a found animal and call you on the number registered on the database. In England microchipping is compulsory for dogs and pet cats, so keep your details on the chip database up to date whenever your phone number or address changes.

Where to look for a missing pet

As well as social media, report your missing pet to local rescue centres, vet practices and the council's dog warden, put up posters with as few personal details as possible and check lost and found databases. Search your area quietly in the evening and early morning: frightened cats often hide close to home and come out when it is quiet.

If you have already paid

If the money has already gone, contact your bank or payment service immediately, as a payment can sometimes still be stopped. Keep the messages, phone number and all photos, and report it to the police and Action Fraud. Tell the admins of the group where you posted your appeal so that others can be warned.

What this means for Europe

The AI photo scam knows no borders: missing pet appeals appear on the same social networks worldwide, and the BBC report shows the problem has already reached Europe. Owners should know the warning signs before their pet ever goes missing, and volunteer search groups should warn members and check anyone who claims to be a “finder”.

When to see a vet

Once your pet is home, have it checked by a vet within the next few days, even if it seems fine. Go straight to the vet if it has wounds, is limping, vomiting, refusing food, struggling to breathe or shows signs of hypothermia. Ask the vet to scan the microchip and update the database details too, so that your pet can be found faster next time.