Police issue local warning

Edgewater police are warning residents about a new scam tied to missing pets, after authorities said criminals are using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake images and pressure owners into sending money. According to the report, the Edgewater Police Department said scammers are watching "Lost Pet" posts on Facebook, Nextdoor and neighborhood groups, then contacting worried owners with fabricated claims that the animal has been found and needs urgent medical care.

The scam is especially cruel because it targets people during a stressful moment. Police said the fraudsters use real photos from online pet posts and generate altered images that appear to show the animal injured, sedated or undergoing surgery. The callers or message senders may pose as veterinarians, good Samaritans or even law enforcement officers, then demand immediate payment before the pet can supposedly be returned.

How the scam works

The key pressure tactic is urgency. Victims are told they must pay right away for lifesaving treatment or risk losing the pet. In the example cited in the report, a Deltona family was nearly tricked out of about $2,800 after receiving AI-generated images of their missing beagle. Authorities said similar cases have surfaced in other places as well, with some victims elsewhere losing hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Police emphasized that in these cases, scammers typically never had the pet at all. Instead, they rely on emotional manipulation, realistic-looking images and the speed of social media communication to make the story feel believable. For Edgewater residents, the warning is a reminder that online neighborhood networks can be helpful for finding lost animals, but they can also be exploited by bad actors.

What Edgewater residents should do

Residents searching for a missing pet should slow down before sending money. If someone claims to have your animal, try to verify the information independently. Contact the veterinary office directly using a publicly listed phone number, not the number provided in a suspicious message. Ask for details only the real finder would know, and be cautious if the person refuses to meet, avoids live video or insists on payment through hard-to-trace methods.

It is also wise to keep screenshots of messages, phone numbers and payment requests if you believe you are being targeted. Those records can help police investigate. Anyone posting about a missing pet should consider limiting how much personal information is shared publicly and should alert family members so they know a scam attempt could follow.

Why this matters locally

This warning has immediate relevance in Edgewater because it comes directly from the city police department. Lost-pet posts are common in local online groups, and scammers appear to be exploiting that routine community behavior. The message from police is not to stop sharing information about missing animals, but to stay alert and verify any contact before acting.

For pet owners, the safest approach is to treat any unexpected demand for money as a red flag until proven otherwise. Edgewater police are urging residents to remain cautious, especially when emotions are high and a quick decision could lead to a costly loss.