Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Daily News Staff

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A 75-year-old Anaheim woman accused of deliberately running over and killing her puppy on a Santa Ana street has now been formally charged with felony animal cruelty, marking a major development in a case that drew widespread attention after surveillance video was released by police.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday, October 2, that Hanh Minh Nguyen, 75, of Anaheim, has been charged with one felony count of animal cruelty, one felony count of animal abuse by a caretaker, and a felony enhancement alleging the personal use of a weapon — a vehicle — to kill the animal.

Nguyen was arrested by Santa Ana police on Thursday, October 1, after investigators used automated license plate reader technology to identify the green Honda Odyssey seen in surveillance footage from the September 8 incident. Police subsequently located Nguyen and found the minivan at her Anaheim residence.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Nguyen was released from custody after posting $20,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on November 2, 2026, in Department C55.

Surveillance video led to investigation

The case began on September 8 at approximately 9:15 a.m., when Santa Ana Animal Services officers responded to a report of a dead black-and-white male pit bull-mix puppy on West Park Lane.

Surveillance footage obtained during the investigation showed a woman removing the puppy from a minivan and placing food near the driver’s side of the vehicle. Authorities allege the woman then slowly drove forward as the puppy approached the food, running over the animal with the vehicle’s rear tire before leaving the scene.

The puppy, identified by authorities as Blackey, died.

The District Attorney’s Office describes Blackey as a 9-week-old puppy. Earlier statements and local news reports described him as approximately 9 months old.

Santa Ana police released surveillance footage of the incident on September 30 and appealed to the public for help identifying the driver.

Within a day, investigators said automated license plate reader technology helped them trace the Honda Odyssey to Nguyen. Police found the vehicle in her garage and took her into custody.

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Police previously said Nguyen acknowledged owning and abandoning Blackey. According to the Los Angeles Times, a Santa Ana Police Department spokesperson said Nguyen told detectives she had left the puppy because he had been annoying her boyfriend by biting his shoes and belongings. Police said she acknowledged abandoning the dog but did not admit to intentionally running him over.

Prosecutors file felony charges

The filing of felony charges moves the case beyond the initial police investigation and into the Orange County court system.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the alleged killing in announcing the charges and said his office intends to prosecute acts of violence against animals.

Deputy District Attorney Danica Drotman of the Orange County District Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Unit is prosecuting the case.

Nguyen is accused of the offenses and has not been convicted. The allegations against her will now be addressed through the court process.

Her next scheduled court appearance is November 2.

STM Daily News will continue following the case and provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Source and Related Links

• Orange County District Attorney — October 2 charging announcement
• The DA’s release is the strongest source for this update. It provides case number 26CF4923, the exact charges, $20,000 bail, November 2 court date and the prosecutor assigned to the case. Orange County District Attorney
• For corroborating coverage, CBS Los Angeles reports the arrest, use of automated license-plate readers and the subsequent felony charges. CBS News
• CBS Los Angeles — arrest and charges update
• NBC Los Angeles — felony charges update

Last Updated on September 30, 2026 by Daily News Staff

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Santa Ana police are asking for the public’s help identifying a woman accused of deliberately running over and killing a puppy after leaving the animal in a residential street earlier this month.

The disturbing incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. on September 8, 2026, in the 900 block of West Park Lane, near 926 W. Park Lane. Police said the dog, described as a pit bull mix puppy, was later found dead in the street.

Investigators subsequently obtained home-surveillance footage showing an older-model green or blue Honda Odyssey minivan stopped along the street.

According to police, the female driver opened the vehicle’s door and placed the puppy on the ground. The puppy went underneath the minivan, and the woman then allegedly placed food on the street near the driver’s side of the vehicle.

As the puppy approached the food, the driver moved the minivan forward. Police said the vehicle’s rear driver’s-side tire went over the puppy and that the minivan remained stopped on the animal for approximately 15 seconds before the driver drove away.

A nearby resident later told officers that they had seen the minivan in the area and believed the puppy had been deliberately run over. Police and animal services personnel spent several weeks canvassing the neighborhood and eventually located surveillance footage that authorities said corroborated the witness’s account.

Police searching for driver

Investigators have not been able to obtain a readable license plate from the surveillance footage.

As of September 30, Santa Ana police were seeking information that could help identify either the woman or the older green or blue Honda Odyssey seen in the video.

Anyone with information about the case is being asked to contact Santa Ana police at 714-245-8378.

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The case comes two years after another highly publicized animal-cruelty incident in Santa Ana involving a woman accused of intentionally running over a 2-month-old Rottweiler puppy in August 2024. In that case, the puppy survived after emergency treatment, and the suspect subsequently turned herself in to police.

STM Daily News will update this story if authorities announce an identification, arrest or charges in the case.

Sure and Related Links

Los Angeles Times — “Santa Ana Police search for woman who appears to deliberately run over puppy in disturbing video”
Los Angeles Times report

CBS Los Angeles — “Santa Ana police seek minivan driver who allegedly intentionally ran over puppy”
CBS Los Angeles report

NBC Los Angeles — “Female driver wanted for ‘intentionally’ running over a puppy in Santa Ana”
NBC Los Angeles report

MyNewsLA — “Santa Ana Police Seek Help Woman Who Fatally Struck Puppy”
MyNewsLA report

Last Updated on June 14, 2026 by Rod Washington

Consumers today are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on more than just price. Many actively seek out local businesses, family-owned companies, veteran-owned enterprises, and Black-owned businesses in an effort to support communities and entrepreneurs they believe in.

Unfortunately, scammers are exploiting that goodwill.

A growing number of fraudulent online stores are using artificial intelligence to create convincing business identities designed to gain consumer trust. These AI-powered storefronts often feature realistic founder photos, emotional backstories, glowing customer reviews, and professional-looking websites that appear legitimate at first glance.

In reality, some of these businesses may not exist at all.

The Rise of AI-Generated Storefronts

Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to create realistic images, videos, and written content. While these tools have many legitimate uses, bad actors are increasingly using them to create fake online businesses.

These websites often claim to be small businesses facing hardship, family-owned operations struggling to survive, or businesses representing specific communities. Their marketing is designed to connect emotionally with consumers who want their purchases to make a positive impact.

Social media advertisements frequently promote urgent “closing sales,” liquidation events, or limited-time discounts that encourage shoppers to act quickly before researching the company.

Why These Scams Work

Trust has become a powerful marketing tool.

Many consumers intentionally support businesses they believe align with their values. Scammers understand this and use carefully crafted stories to create an emotional connection before a purchase is made.

AI-generated founder photos and biographies can make a website appear authentic even when the people featured do not exist. Combined with fake testimonials and professional branding, these tactics can create the illusion of a thriving small business.

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The Impact on Legitimate Businesses

The consequences extend beyond individual consumers who lose money.

Authentic small businesses work hard to earn customer trust through years of service, community involvement, and reputation building. When fraudulent websites falsely present themselves as community-focused businesses, they can damage confidence in legitimate entrepreneurs.

As consumers become more skeptical, genuine business owners may find it harder to convince customers that their stories, products, and missions are real.

Warning Signs to Watch For

Before making a purchase, consumers should look for potential red flags:

• Founder photos that appear overly polished or artificial.
• Business histories that cannot be independently verified.
• Recently created social media accounts with little engagement.
• Deep discounts and constant “going out of business” sales.
• Generic customer reviews lacking specific details.
• Limited contact information or nonexistent customer service.
• Return policies that require shipping products overseas despite claims of being U.S.-based.

Protect Yourself Before You Buy

A few minutes of research can prevent costly mistakes.

Consider searching for independent reviews, verifying business addresses, checking domain registration history, and conducting a reverse image search on founder photographs. Consumers should also be cautious when encountering emotional stories that create a sense of urgency or pressure immediate purchases.

Trust but Verify

Artificial intelligence is transforming commerce and communication, but it is also creating new opportunities for deception.

Supporting small businesses remains one of the most effective ways to strengthen local economies and communities. In the age of AI, however, consumers may need to take an extra step to ensure the businesses they support are truly who they claim to be.

The best defense against AI-powered scams is simple: trust, but verify.

Closing Footnote

As artificial intelligence continues to transform online commerce, consumers should remain vigilant when shopping online. A compelling backstory, professional website, or realistic founder photo is no longer proof that a business is legitimate. Taking a few minutes to verify a company’s identity can help protect your wallet and ensure your support goes to genuine entrepreneurs rather than scammers. https://apnews.com/article/2b83cb87d450f22ac0211bfa52ee7b7f?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Related External Links for Further Reading

You can include these resources in your research or share them with readers interested in learning more about AI-generated business scams, online shopping fraud, and consumer protection.

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• FTC Consumer Alerts – Official consumer warnings and scam prevention resources from the Federal Trade Commission.
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• FTC Shopping & Online Buying Advice – Guidance on safe online shopping, evaluating reviews, and avoiding deceptive sellers.
• Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker – Search reported scams and see examples of online shopping fraud reported by consumers.
• BBB Scam Tracker – Report a Scam – Report suspicious businesses and learn how scam investigations work.
• National Cyber Security Centre: Online Shopping Fraud – Advice on identifying suspicious online stores and protecting yourself from shopping fraud.
• AP News: Beware of Online Ads with Elaborate Backstories – Investigation into fake online boutiques that use emotional stories and misleading branding to gain consumer trust.
• FTC Cracks Down on Fake and AI-Generated Reviews – Overview of federal efforts to combat deceptive reviews and AI-generated testimonials.
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Additional Research Resources

For a deeper dive into the growing problem of AI-assisted scams:

• ScamFerret: Detecting Scam Websites with Large Language Models – Research paper exploring how AI can be used to identify fraudulent websites.
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• LOKI: Proactively Discovering Online Scam Websites – Research paper examining methods used to identify thousands of previously unknown scam websites.
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Protect yourself from the latest online scams with STM Daily News. From AI-powered fraud schemes to consumer safety tips, our Consumer Corner delivers practical information to help you make informed decisions. Visit STM Daily News for more news you can use this moment, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for updates delivered straight to your inbox.