OCEAN CITY, Md. — Ocean City police are alerting social media users to a scam where AI-generated dog photos are used to deceive buyers into sending money for fake puppies. In one case, a buyer was asked to pay $150 via Apple gift card for what appeared to be a purebred puppy, but the image was artificially created. Police caution that scammers often use low prices, poor grammar, refusal to meet in person, and urgent demands to pressure buyers.
They warn against payment methods that are difficult to trace, including gift cards, PayPal, and CashApp. To avoid being scammed, officials recommend verifying sellers through reviews, meeting pets in person before payment, and consulting trusted individuals for advice. Anyone who encounters suspicious activity should report it to the social media platform where it occurred and to local law enforcement.
Photo: AI Generated Example