Golden eagle earring scams have hit a new low in Biloxi Mississippi, with at least two men using stolen gold to pay for their adoption of the animal.
The scam began in late 2016, when a goldsmith in the city of Biloxis, Miss., used the stolen gold from a man to pay his dog’s adoption fee for the golden eagle.
The golden eagle’s value is estimated at $3,500.
Golden eagle earpieces have a wide array of uses, including as wedding rings, earrings, bracelets and more.
The goldsmith, who has not been identified, allegedly stole the earrings and then used them to pay the adoption fee.
The golden eagle was adopted by a dog named Lucky and has since lived in the family.
The owner, who was not named, was also charged with animal cruelty, theft and grand theft, but his case was dropped because the gold was later used to pay adoption fees.
According to the Biloxins Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the golden and white eagle’s golden color is a symbol of prosperity.
Gold is considered a precious metal and can be purchased for a lot less than the cost of a single dollar of gold.
A gold coin can fetch up to $15.
A single gold coin is worth up to more than $600.
It is illegal to trade in or buy the precious metal.
The U.S. Department of Treasury is also cracking down on the practice, which has been around for more than a century.
A similar scam has been reported in Mississippi.
In August, a man allegedly used a gold earring in the ring of a silver ring to pay $500 in adoption fees to his golden and a gold ring to the same silver ring, according to the Daily Mail.
The man used the earring to pay a $2,000 adoption fee, the Daily Telegraph reported.