Scammers sent AI-generated photos of a missing dog, one showing a ChatGPT link, to demand money from a Livonia family
A Livonia family searching for their missing terrier mix, Sofia, says scammers sent AI-generated photos of the dog and demanded money. One photo appeared to show her in a cage. One image still showed a ChatGPT link and the instruction given to the AI. The family says scammers targeted each family member with demands for money. They also made group FaceTime calls and middle-of-the-night calls claiming to be chasing the dog. Early on, scammers asked the family to meet in a church parking lot and said they could see the dog only after paying first. The family has not paid anyone and is sharing the story to warn other pet owners.
What the AI did
Scammers used AI to create fake photos of the family's missing dog and sent them while demanding money. One photo appeared to show the dog in a cage. One of the images still showed a ChatGPT link and the instruction given to the AI.
First reported October 3, 2026 · Added to the register October 7, 2026 · 1 source
- Model
- ChatGPT
- Affected
- Bonkowski family (Livonia)
- When it happened
- Not stated in the sources
- First reported
- October 3, 2026
What this means for you
Could this affect you?
Pet owners who post publicly about missing animals, and consumers more broadly, are targets for scams that use AI-made images as fake proof to demand payment.
What to check
- Treat unsolicited images offered as proof with suspicion.
- Ask for verifiable, real-time evidence before believing a claim.
- Never pay before seeing the item or animal in person.
- Watch for red flags such as requests for money, moves to other messaging apps, false urgency and lack of proof.
Areas of your AI programme this touches
Every fact and its source (4)
- Claimed origin of scam textsNigeria“the person that text was from Nigeria”[1]
- Financial outcomeFamily has not paid anyone“The Bonkowskis have not paid anyone.”[1]
- Fake image contentAI-generated photo appeared to show the dog in a cage“Then the AI-generated photos started, including one that appeared to show Sofia in a cage.”[1]
- Regulator responseFTC posted a consumer alert on missing pet scams“The Federal Trade Commission posted a consumer alert earlier this year.”[1]
Sources
- Scammers used AI photos to target Livonia family searching for their missing dogwxyz.com · October 3, 2026
How this record is classified. Severity M (2/5): harm to individuals, or a policy breach with limited reach. OECD level: incident, an event in which an AI system led to actual harm. Evidence: Reported, meaning press reporting only.
The facts in At a glance and in Every fact and its source are quoted from the sources listed. The summary, What the AI did and What this means for you are written from those sources and checked against them automatically before publication. Records reflect what has been disclosed, not everything that has happened. Incidents are found through news feeds and the GDELT Project.
