A Sheriff Warns of Scam Calls With AI Photos of a Fake ‘Deputy’ Standing Next to a Crypto Machine
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Payments Real Deputies Demand by Phone
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A Typical Scam Deadline, Experts Say
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Threats Used to Scare Victims
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Medium
Fooled Index
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AI-GENERATED PHOTO — A “deputy” at a crypto machine, wearing the wrong uniform.
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Over the weekend of Oct. 24, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan posted a warning about a growing scam. According to News 10 in Lansing, scammers are using AI-generated photos of a “deputy,” often standing next to a cryptocurrency machine, along with spoofed phone numbers, to pressure people into paying in cryptocurrency. Callers even invent fake deputy names to sound official.
The scammers use fear and a deadline. The calls threaten outstanding warrants, a missed jury duty date, or the arrest of a family member. Investigators say one key giveaway in the fake pictures is that the AI-generated deputy wears the wrong-colored uniform.
The sheriff’s office stressed that law enforcement will never call to demand payment, fines, bond money, or cryptocurrency. Anyone who gets a call like that should hang up right away and not share personal or banking information.
Experts quoted by the station said looking at the picture is not enough. Anjana Susarla, a Michigan State University professor who studies responsible AI, said AI content can be very hard to detect even for experts, so people should watch behavior instead, and a real relative is unlikely to ask for money within the next 10 minutes. Nakia Mills of the Better Business Bureau of Michigan suggested checking the fingers, teeth, and background of images, and recommended a family passcode, a secret word that someone claiming to be a loved one can be asked to give. She also said anyone who is targeted should hang up, call back on a number they already have, and report the scam to the BBB Scam Tracker or the FTC, because reporting can help the next person.
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The uniform is the wrong color. Investigators say the AI-generated “deputy” wears a uniform that doesn’t match the real one.
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The deadline is the real tell. Experts say a demand for money within minutes, even from a trusted voice, is a scam clue.
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Real deputies don’t take payments by phone. Law enforcement will never demand payment, fines, bond money, or crypto in a call.
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A passcode can settle it. The BBB suggests a secret family word to confirm a caller who claims to be a relative in trouble.
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🚨 AI-Aided Fake-Deputy Scam
These photos and calls are not from the sheriff’s office. They are a scam that uses AI-made pictures of a fake deputy, spoofed phone numbers, and a deadline to push people into paying with cryptocurrency. Hang up, and call the agency back on a number you look up yourself.
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Seeds for ‘Screaming Demon Shrimp’ Flowers? AI Photos Sold Plants That Don’t Exist. Etsy Just Changed Its Rules
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In late June and early July 2026, 404 Media and security sites documented sellers on eBay, Amazon, and Etsy using AI-generated pictures of “impossible” flowers to sell seeds: rainbow-striped roses, purple “teddy bear” sunflowers, cat-face orchids, butterfly-shaped plants, and blooms that looked like “screaming demon shrimp.” Buyers reported getting ordinary seeds, or nothing at all. One eBay seller moved rainbow rose seeds 37,271 times before being banned. eBay said it uses AI-supported monitoring, and Amazon and Etsy did not respond to 404 Media. On Oct. 22, Etsy announced new rules. Most listings now need at least one unaltered photo of the actual item against a real background, any extra AI-assisted images must accurately show what the buyer will receive, bot-generated listings with no human involved are banned, and sellers must disclose AI use. Etsy also said it will add a way for shoppers to report listings with misleading AI images. AI editing of lighting or color is still allowed if the pictures show the real item. Tips for buyers include checking a plant’s botanical Latin name in a reputable database and buying from established seed companies that list a physical address.
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YOUR REALITY DETECTOR TOOLKIT |
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Today’s Skill: Slow Down When Money Is Involved
Scams run on speed and pictures. Taking a few minutes breaks both.
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Hang up and call back on a number you look up
The fake deputy used spoofed phone numbers, so the caller ID proves nothing. Find the agency’s real number yourself and call it.
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Set a family passcode
AI can copy a voice, so a familiar voice is no longer proof. A secret word only your family knows can settle a “relative in trouble” call in seconds.
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Ask whether the thing in the picture could exist
No orchid has a cat’s face, and no rose is striped like a rainbow. If the product looks too wonderful to be real, check its real name with a trusted seed company before you pay.
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