Police raise concerns amid AI use in pet extortion scams
Posted Sep 5, 2025 10:22:53 AM.
Last Updated Sep 5, 2025 11:35:20 AM.
Guelph Police are raising the alarm on the use of artificial intelligence after another local case of lost pet extortion.
It was on Thursday when officers were contacted by a pet owner who believed they had been targeted by a fraudster in a pet extortion scheme.
According to police, the man had made several posts online in an attempt to find his lost cat, only to be contacted by someone who said they had located the animal. That contact said they would only return the lost cat for $300.
The victim is said to have sent that suspect $50, only to receive an AI generated photo of their lost pet alongside demands for further payment. The victim declined and made their call to Guelph Police to report the crime.
Officials note that they were contacted as recently as last Sunday for a similar case involving a woman from Brantford, in which the woman had lost her dog, and ended up sending an individual a $100 e-transfer. In that case, the contact again asked for more money, though the woman is said to have found her missing dog.
Whether or not the two incidents are connected is not known.
Guelph Police have since expressed concern that this style of scam could become more commonplace as AI technology continues to advance in creating realistic-looking images.
“The owner of any lost pet should be extremely cautious if they receive such messages, even if they appear to be accompanied by a photo of their pet,” reads a release from Guelph Police.
The investigation into these incidents are still ongoing – anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
