Missing dog owner offered $10,000 reward, then got a suspected AI photo of his own pet in a cage
An Australian man searching for his missing Irish wolfhound says scammers sent a suspected AI image after he posted a $10,000 reward.
For one missing dog owner in Western Australia, the moment of hope arrived as a photo. It appeared to show his Irish wolfhound, Bundy, inside a cage, but the image quickly became something else entirely: a suspected AI fake that left him even more devastated while he was trying to get his dog back.
The image that was supposed to prove Bundy had been found
Westin Ruyter, from Balingup in Western Australia, said he was sent a picture that looked like evidence his missing dog had been located. Instead, he came to believe it had been generated using artificial intelligence.
Ruyter said the image showed Bundy, his Irish wolfhound, in a cage. But when he looked more closely, he believed it had been built from the same photo of Bundy that he had already posted on Facebook, with the cage added in. He also pointed to details that did not look right to him, including the appearance of a bowl and blurring in front of the dog's muzzle.
What made the message especially cruel was the context. Ruyter was already trying to bring home a missing pet, and he said receiving the suspected fake worsened that heartbreak rather than easing it. The picture did not bring answers. It brought another layer of uncertainty at a moment when he was looking for proof he could trust.
A reward post drew messages from suspected scammers
Ruyter had posted on Facebook offering a $10,000 reward for Bundy's return. After that post went up, he said he started receiving messages from suspected scammers.
One person contacted him claiming they had found Bundy and suggested meeting near a general store in Balingup. The town is about 240 kilometres south of Perth. Ruyter said the message gave him hope at first.
But nobody turned up to the meeting.
When Ruyter asked for more confirmation that Bundy had really been found, the photo arrived. That was the image he later came to suspect had been created with AI. After sending it, the person stopped replying, according to Ruyter.
The episode shows how easily a search for a missing animal can become an opening for deception. A public appeal for help, especially one that includes a reward and clear photos, can also give bad actors material to work with. In this case, the same image intended to help identify Bundy was, in Ruyter's view, used against him.
Authorities say missing pet owners are being targeted
Australia's ACCC National Anti-Scam Centre said it is aware of scams aimed at people searching for missing pets. According to the centre, criminals may use AI-generated images as supposed proof that they have the animal and then ask for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency in exchange for its return.
That warning helps explain why the messages sent to Ruyter fit into a wider pattern, not just a one-off incident. The tactic relies on urgency. Someone is already distressed, already looking online for updates and already ready to respond quickly if a lead sounds real.
Paul Haskell-Dowland, a cybersecurity professor at Edith Cowan University, said it is becoming easier to personalise scams. He said scammers can search for sensitive information in local online communities and use what they find to tailor their approaches more precisely.
His advice was simple, even if it is difficult to follow when a pet is missing: be careful about what you share online. That caution applies even in desperate situations, when people are trying to spread the word as widely as possible.
Ruyter's experience captures an unsettling side of the AI boom. The technology does not need to produce a flawless fake to do damage. It only has to look convincing enough for a moment, long enough to spark hope, arrange a meeting, or make someone believe the next message might finally lead them back to the animal they are trying to find.
Why fake pet photos can look convincing
Images made or altered with AI can look believable at first glance, especially when someone is already stressed and desperate for good news. A scammer may take a real photo from social media, edit it, or generate a new one that loosely matches a missing pet's breed, colour, markings, or collar.
Common warning signs include odd lighting, unnatural fur texture, warped cage bars, extra or missing toes, mismatched shadows, blurry text, and details that seem to melt into the background. Some fake images also avoid showing the full body clearly, because unique markings are harder to fake from every angle. If a photo appears suddenly with a demand for money, urgency, or secrecy, treat it carefully.
How to check whether a sighting is real
Ask for proof that is hard to fake quickly. Request several new photos from different angles, a short video, or a live video call. Ask the person to photograph the dog next to a handwritten note with a specific word, or to capture a unique action such as showing a certain toy, collar, or response to a familiar name.
Compare any image with your own photos. Focus on markings, ear shape, tail shape, scars, paw colour, and collar wear. Save screenshots of messages, usernames, phone numbers, and payment requests. Do not send money or personal documents before verification. If you are unsure, ask a trusted friend, vet, rescue worker, or local pet group to review the image with fresh eyes.
What helps most when a dog is missing
The most useful information is clear, recent and easy to share. Keep several good photos ready, including close ups of distinctive markings. Make sure microchip and tag details are current, and contact local shelters, vets, rescue groups, and animal control services as early as possible, because found dogs are often reported through ordinary local channels before anything appears online.
When posting publicly, include practical details such as the area last seen, temperament, medical needs, and the best contact method. Be cautious about giving away every identifying detail, because holding back one or two unique features can help you test whether a claimed sighting is genuine. Organized records, calm verification, and broad local outreach usually work better than reacting to every message immediately.
