Feb 16, 2026
Dennis Morida’s worst nightmare became a reality when his puppy went missing, but that was far from the end of his troubles.
When Hazel, a young German Shepherd, escaped through a hole in the backyard fence, Morida quickly turned to social media and neighborhood apps to try to find her as soon as possible (1). Later that evening, Morida — who lives in Florida — received a phone call from someone who claimed to be a sergeant from the St. Petersburg Police Department.
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As Morida was told, Hazel had reportedly been hit by a car and was being treated at a local vet’s office. The caller even provided Morida with an incident report number, an address and an alleged photo of Hazel lying injured on the operating table.
Morida was reportedly told he had to send $1,900 through Zelle, an American digital payment network, to cover Hazel’s emergency surgery. The concerned pet owner reportedly tried to send the money, but the transaction was flagged due to its large amount.
Fortunately for Morida, he realized the supposed sergeant’s story, along with the convincing photo showing Hazel on the operating table, was all fake when the puppy was found in his yard the next morning, completely unharmed.
"It seemed so real and so legit at the time,” Morida shared with Tampa Bay 28. “We would do anything to get the puppy back, to get Hazel back.”
How advanced AI scams can be dangerous
Shortly after Morida’s Zelle transaction was flagged, he tried again, this time with a smaller amount. And as the transaction was awaiting approval, Morida received the alleged photo evidence of Hazel’s stay at the vet.
"They said, ‘you're going to get a text message with a picture so that we can verify it is your dog,’ and so I got a text,” Morida explained. “I opened it and yeah, definitely her, but I didn't realize it was AI-generated.”
Morida says the caller then told him he could pick up Hazel from Pinellas County Animal Services the next day. "They gave the exact address, the exact phone number so it felt more legit, seemed more legit," said Morida.
But when Hazel showed up in his yard the next morning, Morida realized he was getting scammed and was able to get Zelle to stop the payment.
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Luck was on his side, and Morida was able to avoid getting scammed out of nearly $2,000, but many people who are targeted by advanced AI scams often aren’t as lucky. As Morida’s story indicates, scammers no longer need to rely on poorly written emails or text messages that are obvious scams.
These days, AI tools can generate hyper-realistic photos that can pull on an innocent victim’s heartstrings. In fact, the emotional manipulation is what makes this type of scam so effective and dangerous. When someone believes their pet is in danger, logic can quickly be replaced with urgency and fear, something that scammers can take advantage of.
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How to spot the red flags
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, these are a few warning signs that could potentially save you from getting scammed.
- Demands for money ASAP: Real animal services, veterinarian offices and police departments do not require immediate payment in order to solve a situation such as this.
- Payment requests via apps: As the Federal Trade Commission warns, requests for money through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or gift cards are classic scam tactics. These payments are fast, often irreversible and hard to trace (2).
- “Proof” that can’t be verified: An image, even if it looks real, is not legitimate verification. AI images can now be created in seconds.
- Pressure to act now: Scammers deliberately create pressure and urgency so that you won’t call the vet, the shelter or the police department directly.
In Morida’s case, Zelle’s system flagged his initial transaction, but that type of safety net isn’t always guaranteed. Payment apps don’t function like credit cards and often can’t reverse payments once they’ve been processed. In fact, cash apps typically offer limited or no fraud protection, so if money is sent out, it’s generally gone for good.
How to protect yourself as a pet owner
If you find yourself in a similar situation as Morida, here are a few things you can do to verify the emergency and avoid getting scammed:
- Verify everything independently: Call the police department, shelter or vet using numbers from official websites, not links that are sent to you via email or text.
- Never send money to strangers: Especially not through peer-to-peer apps or in the form of gift cards.
- Ask for in-person confirmation: Real veterinarian offices and animal services will allow you to see your pet at the facility.
- Assume images can be fake: Treat any photo sent by a stranger as unverified, no matter how real it may appear to be.
- Pause before paying: Scammers rely on panic and urgency. Taking time to clear your head and reevaluate the situation can potentially save you and your wallet.
If you happen to fall victim to a similar scam, contact your bank or credit card company immediately in an effort to block or reverse the transaction. If you gave up personal information, you can visit IdentityTheft.gov and follow the steps on how to monitor your credit, as well as advice on what to do next.
AI has made scams more believable, more personal and more financially devastating. As technology gets smarter, the most powerful defense can be as simple as slowing down, verifying independently and never sending money to strangers while under pressure.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Tampa Bay 28 (1); Federal Trade Commission (2).
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Jessica is a freelance writer with a professional background in economic development and small business consulting. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Sociology and is completing her Publishing Certificate.
