SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. \u2014 A Florida couple is warning others about an AI scam that tricked them out of nearly $2,000.<\/p>\n
A couple in Saint Petersburg said they received a call about their missing puppy, which needed emergency surgery.<\/p>\n
The couple posted a flyer about their lost dog, Hazel, which led to a phone call claiming she had been injured. <\/p>\n
Scammers sent an AI-generated photo to make their story seem believable.<\/p>\n
Michelle Morida, the dog owner, recounted the moment they received the call, saying, \u201cSo it all sounded legit, and I, and that\u2019s where I was like, okay, then, can we come see her? And they\u2019re like, oh, yeah, 9:30 in the morning.\u201d <\/p>\n
This reassurance prompted them to pursue the scam, believing they needed to act quickly to save Hazel.<\/p>\n
When the couple went to retrieve their dog the next morning, they were shocked to find Hazel waiting for them back at their home, sitting in their golf cart. <\/p>\n
This led them to realize they had been duped by the scammers.<\/p>\n
Local pet hospitals, in light of this incident, urge pet owners to be cautious, stating they will never ask for emergency payment over the phone.<\/p>\n
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