A resident of Vespasiano, in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, almost fell victim to a scam that promised the sale of “mini dinosaurs” for R$500. The fraud, which took place on August 21, 2026, used videos created by artificial intelligence to give credibility to the advertisement posted on WhatsApp status. The distrust arose before the payment was finalized and prevented financial losses for the interested party.
How the Offering of False Reptiles Spread
The misleading ad was circulated on WhatsApp statuses, showing videos of the supposed “mini dinosaurs” in an environment that mimicked a breeding facility, complete with feeders and waterers. To further convince the victims, the scammer shared prints of forged conversations, where supposed buyers claimed to have purchased the animals and were satisfied with the purchase.
The resident of Vespasiano, who preferred not to be identified, was interested in the proposal. He even got in touch with the advertiser, asking for more images of the “pets” available. However, the supposed seller imposed a condition: more photos and videos would only be sent after payment via Pix.
The distrust that prevented financial losses
It was the requirement for advance payment that raised an alarm in the potential buyer. Before carrying out any transaction, he decided to look for a friend, who is the father of Vitor Monteiro, a resident of the same region, to question the veracity of the offer.
Vitor reported that his father was able to identify that the images were probably generated by artificial intelligence. In the bottom right corner of the recording, the Gemini watermark was visible, the AI tool developed by Google, frequently used to produce visual content. This observation was crucial to alert the friend about the risk of a scam.
The role of artificial intelligence in creating fraud
This case highlights the growing sophistication of online scams, which use artificial intelligence tools to create increasingly convincing content. AI-generated videos and images can simulate real-life situations with great accuracy, making it difficult for the average victim to distinguish what is real from what is fake. The ability to produce realistic videos in a short time enhances the spread of fraud, exploiting the surprise factor and people’s desire for unusual offers.
Tips for identifying digital scams and avoiding falling into traps
To protect yourself from similar scams, it is essential to take some precautions. Be wary of “too good to be true” offers, especially if they involve unusual products or animals. Always check the seller’s credibility, even if they present “social proof” like testimonials. Never make advance payments via Pix or other forms of transfer to unknown sellers, especially if they refuse other forms of negotiation or display of the product. If you are suspicious of images or videos, try performing a reverse search or look for watermarks from AI tools, like Gemini in this case.
Minas Gerais Civil Police without case record
The Minas Gerais Civil Police (PCMG) was asked about investigations regarding the alleged sale of “mini dinosaurs” and whether other people could have been victims of this type of scam. The institution reported that it was not possible to locate an incident record related to the specific case. PCMG reinforces the importance of registering police reports at a police station or at a Military Police base so that investigations can begin.
