Missing pet posters are a familiar sight across Reno neighborhoods and on social media, but police are warning that scammers are now exploiting desperate pet owners with increasingly sophisticated tactics, including the use of artificial intelligence.
Reno resident, Tammy Rieken, said she received a call claiming her missing cat, Loulou, had been found. “When they first called, I was elated. I was so excited because she was found,” Rieken said.
Rieken said the situation quickly turned disturbing. She said scammers sent her a graphic photo that experts believe was most likely AI, claiming Loulou had been hit by a car and needed emergency surgery. “When he sent the picture and I saw her whole shoulder cut open, that was devastating,” she said.
The caller claimed to be from Mountain View Animal Hospital and demanded thousands of dollars for treatment…