ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WSVN) \u2014 A couple in St. Petersburg is speaking out after, they said, they contacted by scammers about their lost puppy.<\/p>\n
Dog trainers Michelle and Dennis Morida did what many desperate pet owners would do in the same situation. They now have a cautionary tale to share in hopes that no one else gets scammed.<\/p>\n
A tiny gap in a backyard fence was all Hazel, the couple\u2019s German shepherd puppy, needed to send them into a frantic search on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe train service dogs, you know, combat wounded veterans, first responders,\u201d said Dennis. \u201cShe squeezed just enough. She slipped right through, and then we looked on the cameras, and she went through the neighbor\u2019s yard, but then it didn\u2019t matter by that time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Moridas posted pictures of Hazel on Facebook and Nextdoor looking for help.<\/p>\n
Later that night, they said, they got a call from someone who claimed to be police saying that Hazel had been hit by a car and was in the hospital needing surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had a location for the incident where she supposedly got hit,\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich was very close to here,\u201d added Dennis.<\/p>\n
The man sent the couple a fake picture of Hazel on an operating table, and in their desperation, they thought it was her and sent $1,900 to him through the banking app Zelle.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it all sounded legit, and I, and that\u2019s where I was like, \u2018OK, then, can we come see her?\u2019 And they\u2019re like, \u2018Oh, yeah, 9:30 in the morning,’\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n
When the Moridas went to get Hazel the next day, they discovered their pet was back sitting in their golf cart. In that moment the couple realized they has been scammed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was beating myself up. How do I do this? I\u2019m a professional, you know,\u201d said Dennis.<\/p>\n
They hope others can learn from their mistake, since the scammers weren\u2019t caught and are now using photos made with artificial intelligence to trick people in distress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt kept beating me up. I believe everything happens for a reason, and this could be the reason right here,\u201d said Dennis.<\/p>\n
Scams where the perpetrators impersonate well-known businesses and government agencies are among the top reported. In 2023, losses topped $1.1 billion.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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