With the price of gold near an all-time high, scammers are taking notice in Suffolk County.
The devices are designed to blend in with legitimate payment terminals while containing electronics that intercept card information.
Federal officials are calling it a scheme that undermines the integrity of the entire immigration system.
They will manipulate the photos to make it look like the animal is hurt and then call the pet's owner, promising to reunite them for a fee.
A man who was scammed out of $172,000 is speaking out in hopes of raising awareness and preventing others from falling victim to social media scams.
The deacon was arrested in Kentucky for allegedly scamming and conning a woman for three years.