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Bureau of AI
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IncidentPeople used AI as a toolSeverity M: moderate, 2/5Confirmed: a company, official or court statement

Scammers used AI-generated images of fake Eaton County deputies to push Michigan residents to pay via Bitcoin ATMs

Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich warned in a Facebook post that fraudsters are calling mid-Michigan residents from numbers spoofed to look like local Eaton County lines. In some cases the scammers pair the calls with AI-generated images of fake sheriff's deputies standing next to cryptocurrency machines, instructing victims to deposit funds into Bitcoin ATMs. The callers invent deputy names and claim victims must pay immediately or face arrest, citing missed jury duty, bond for a jailed relative or unpaid fines. Investigators said the AI-generated deputy wears the wrong-colored uniform, and the sheriff stressed that law enforcement never demands payments by phone.

What the AI did

Scammers used AI to create images of fake sheriff's deputies standing next to cryptocurrency machines. They paired these images with spoofed phone calls to show victims how to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs. It has not been reported which AI tool was used.

First reported October 25, 2026 · Added to the register November 2, 2026 · 1 source

Affected
Mid-Michigan residents
Country
United States (Michigan)
When it happened
Not stated in the sources
First reported
October 25, 2026

What this means for you

Could this affect you?

Yes

Residents of Eaton County and mid-Michigan have been targeted with calls spoofed to look local and fake AI-made deputy images demanding payment under threat of arrest. The sheriff urged residents to warn older adults who may be vulnerable to such schemes.

What to check

  • Train staff and customers that police never demand fines, bond or cryptocurrency payments by phone.
  • Treat images of officers sent with payment demands as likely fakes.
  • Hang up on unsolicited calls demanding payment.
  • Watch for urgent cryptocurrency ATM deposits tied to claimed warrants or bond, if you are a bank or crypto ATM operator.

Areas of your AI programme this touches

Deepfakes and impersonationFraud and payment controlsConsumer protectionChildren and vulnerable users
Every fact and its source (5)
  1. AI useAI-generated images of fake deputies next to cryptocurrency machines
    “AI-generated images of fake sheriff’s deputies standing next to cryptocurrency machines”[1]
  2. Payment demandVictims told to deposit funds into Bitcoin ATMs
    “visually instructing victims to deposit funds into Bitcoin ATMs”[1]
  3. Visual giveawayAI deputy wears wrong-colored uniform
    “the AI-generated deputy is depicted wearing the wrong-colored uniform”[1]
  4. Phone spoofingCalls spoofed to look like local Eaton County lines
    “calling residents from numbers designed to appear as local Eaton County phone lines”[1]
  5. ResponseSheriff Tom Reich warned public via Facebook post
    “In a Facebook post on Saturday, Reich alerted the community”[1]

Sources

  1. Eaton County Sheriff warns of new scam using AI-generated photos of deputies, Bitcoin demands
    wilx.com · October 25, 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: Confirmed, meaning a company, official or court statement.

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.

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