Artificial intelligence has given cattle scammers a new tool: computer-generated livestock images realistic enough to front fraudulent online listings. The Texas Department of Agriculture is warning producers that photographs alone can no longer establish that an animal — or a seller — is real. "AI-generated images are becoming increasingly realistic and are being used in online livestock scams. Don't rely on photos alone when purchasing cattle through social media," it said.

The losses are real. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told KIII 3NEWS in Corpus Christi that at least one producer lost roughly $70,000. "Be very cautious. The quick dollar gets, it kind of clouds people's vision sometimes," he said. Earlier this month the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries warned of fake social-media profiles posing as legitimate cattle operations; some buyers, it said, travelled to collect cattle they thought they had bought, only to find the real operation knew nothing of the sale.

"Producers and buyers must remain diligent, verify who they are doing business with and take the necessary steps to ensure transactions are legitimate before purchasing," said Alabama Commissioner Rick Pate. Online and social-media sales have become routine and let cattle be marketed nationwide — which is exactly what gives impostors their opening.

The tells, according to the two departments: ears, eyes and tails with unnatural details; brands, ear tags and other markings that are missing or distorted; several cattle that look identical or repeat within one image; misshapen bodies, uneven legs, irregular nostrils and blurry edges where the animal meets the background; warped fences, blurry scenery and inconsistent lighting or shadows; and an image that looks unusually polished. But spotting a flawed picture should not be the only defence: a seller who refuses extra photographs, current video or a live video call is a red flag, and buyers should verify contact details, ask for references and confirm the operation exists before paying.

Coastal Bend rancher Scott Frazier, 40 years in the business, buys online but does not buy blind. He recently bought a black bull from South Dakota on the strength of videos and a trusted contact who inspected the animal on the spot. "Most livestock producers I know of want you back as a repeat customer, so it doesn't do them any good to fraudulently present something to you," he said. The Texas department's summary is simpler still: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Source: AGDAILY