GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — Kenneth Hayes never thought he would be the victim of an online scam. Everything he saw on a website claiming to have pit bull puppies looked real.
"Everything seemed like really legit," said Hayes. "Like, at the time, we were getting a new home, we wanted to get a puppy. I was looking at reviews. And there was like, a lot of good reviews, a lot of people saying a lot of great things."
After shelling out 800 bucks in early 2023 over the online payment system Zelle, he was told he would have to pay another $1,400 to ship the dog in an airconditioned crate on an airplane.
That's when he started getting frustrated, and suspicious.
"At the end of it, I was just out the $800 I paid him for the dog because, you know, I realized I was being scammed,' said Hayes.
Better Business Bureau's Katie Grievious says online purchase scams, like Hayes', have become the top most common scam for the third year in a row.
"The way people lost the most money to through these online purchase scams was through pet scams from you know, looking to get that furry friend to bring home with them," said Grievous. "And unfortunately, after paying all the money and waiting for that animal to be shipped to them from another state, not only did the animal not show up, all that money was gone."
Grievious says that most of the scams originated through social media. And while those online scams were at the top of the list, there was another that was also popular.
"Number two top scam is phishing scams," said Grievous. "Those are the emails, the text messages that you know, claim, you need to click on a link because there's a problem with your account, or you maybe oh, extra postage to receive a package, things like that."
One of the biggest things you can do to keep yourself from becoming a victim: do your research.
"Just do a quick Google search," said Grievous. "It can save you thousands of dollars. In the end, it can save you from accidentally giving away information, money wasting your time, things like that, you know, too good to be true."
Per the BBB, other things you can do to avoid scams:
1. Never send money via gift card or wire transfer to someone you have never met face-to-face.
2. Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited emails.
3. Don’t believe everything you see.
4. Double check your online purchase is secure before checking out.
5. Use extreme caution when dealing with anyone you’ve met online.
6. Never share personally identifiable information.
7. Resist the pressure to act immediately.
8. Use secure and traceable transactions.
9. Whenever possible, work with local businesses.
10. Be cautious about what you share on social media.
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