Is the Viral Video Claiming Mini Dinosaur Sale Real? Know the Truth as Man Nearly Falls for WhatsApp Scam in Brazil
A viral WhatsApp ad in Brazil claimed to sell live ‘mini dinosaurs’ for R$500, but the video was AI-generated and carried a Gemini watermark. A potential buyer nearly fell for the scam after the seller demanded a Pix payment for more images and created urgency by claiming the animals were being reserved.
A WhatsApp status circulating in Vespasiano, in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan region of Brazil, claimed to be selling live "mini dinosaurs" for R$500 each. The post included a video of the supposed reptiles, along with screenshots of alleged conversations with satisfied buyers featuring messages such as "I got one, very happy" and "I got one and loved it," apparently intended to make the advertisement look legitimate.
Conclusion
False. The video used in the advertisement was generated using artificial intelligence and is not real. The recording carries a Gemini watermark in the corner of the screen, confirming that the footage was AI generated rather than genuine video of live animals. No such creature as a "mini dinosaur" exists, and the listing was part of a scam attempt targeting potential buyers.
Mini Dinosaur Scam: AI-Generated Video Used in Fake R$500 WhatsApp Sale
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How the Scam Unfolded
The case was reported by Vitor, a resident of the city, whose father's friend, a nearly 40-year-old man, came close to falling for the scam. According to Vitor, the man grew suspicious about whether the advertisement was genuine and sought his opinion before going ahead with the purchase. Did a ‘Jinn’ Throw a Woman Down Stairs in Egypt After She Crossed Paths With a Cat? Truth Behind the Viral Video.
Interested in buying one, the man contacted the seller to ask how the purchase worked and requested additional photos and videos. The seller said he would only send new images after receiving a Pix payment, and even claimed he would visit the location where the animals were supposedly kept to take more pictures. According to Vitor, the suspect also created a sense of urgency by posting new WhatsApp statuses claiming that some units had already been reserved and that future sales would only be made by order. The intended victim became suspicious and did not make the payment. Do Human Testicles Sell for INR 6 Crore in Gulf Countries? Viral Myth Debunked After Bhopal Murder.
Why the Video Fooled People
The video shared by the scammer was created using AI, but the telltale Gemini watermark in the corner of the footage gave away its artificial origin, indicating the images were not real.
Is This a Crime Under Brazilian Law?
Yes. Article 171 of Brazil's Penal Code defines fraud as obtaining an unlawful advantage at another person's expense by inducing or keeping the victim in error through deception, an offence that currently carries a penalty of one to five years in prison and a fine.
When a scam is carried out through digital means, it may fall under the category of electronic fraud, provided for in Article 171, Section 2-A, introduced by Law No. 14,155/2021. In such cases, the penalty rises to four to eight years in prison and a fine. If someone uses AI to create fake images, videos, voices or advertisements with the intention of deceiving a person and obtaining money, the AI serves as the tool used to commit the fraud, and depending on how it was carried out, the offence may be classified as fraud or electronic fraud.
Fact check
A WhatsApp ad claimed to sell live ‘mini dinosaurs’ for R$500 in Brazil.
False. The video was AI-generated and the ad was part of a scam attempt to trick buyers into making a Pix payment.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2026 01:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
