Jewelry owners are being warned about a sophisticated scam that uses artificial intelligence to exploit people who have lost high-value or sentimental items.
The Pelham Police Department in Alabama issued a warning after scammers were found to be monitoring social media posts about lost jewelry — particularly items such as wedding rings. According to WBRC, the scammers use AI-generated images to create convincing proof that they have found a missing item, sometimes fabricating photos to suggest the piece was purchased at a pawn shop.
“They don’t care about people’s feelings. They don’t care about people’s emotions,” Sgt. Iliana Hayakahua of the Pelham Police Department told WBRC.
In one recent case, a Pelham woman was targeted after posting a photo of her missing jewelry online. She contacted authorities before sending any money, and investigators determined that the scammer’s phone number had been linked to successful thefts in other jurisdictions, where victims paid a “ransom” but never recovered their jewelry.
Police advise owners to provide only written descriptions of missing items rather than posting photos, to avoid giving scammers visual data for AI manipulation. Jewelers can help protect customers by passing along these precautions and advising that any exchange for “found” items take place at a local police department.
