Scammers use AI-generated images of missing pets to extort owners
SCAM ALERTMalwarebytesredteam/daily · 1 source
- Severity
- Medium
- Sources
- 1
What happened
No CVEs or software vulnerabilities are involved; this is a social engineering extortion campaign. Malwarebytes Scam Guard telemetry recorded three lure types over one month: photo-backed "found your cat" messages, voicemail callback lures, and an impersonation of a humane society demanding successive payments. Defenders should advise users to withhold distinctive pet details, never pay in advance, and verify any veterinary claim by calling a clinic number found independently.
For security analysts · Written by AI from 1 source · Wrong?
What to do
- Do not pay anyone in advance to secure the return of a pet.
- Keep a distinctive feature of your pet private so you can test a supposed finder's claims.
- Verify any veterinary or shelter claim by calling a number you find yourself, not one in the message.
- Arrange any handover in a safe, public place and confirm it is your pet before paying a reward.
Written by AI from the sources, checked against them
Full story timeline · 1 update
Who reported · 1 outlet
Malwarebytes Labs
Who and what is in it
Companies