MARBLE HILL, Mo. (KFVS) – Consumers from California, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Arizona have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars when they attempted to purchase items online from what they believed was Cook Equipment and Trucking in Marble Hill, Missouri.

“I don’t like nobody running my business through a scam. I don’t like the thief,“ said Ronnie Cook, owner of Cook Equipment and Trucking.

The Better Business Bureau calls it a sophisticated online scam that uses fake websites to impersonate a real business.

“Somebody calls me, first thing I say is I hope you ain’t send money,” Cook continued.

In July alone, 10 people have called to report their money being stolen. Since this all started just a few months ago, over $300,000 has been wired to different bank accounts across the country.

There are at least three fraudulent websites and a phony Facebook page for Cook’s Marble Hill business, tricking people into thinking they’re buying equipment from him.

“I put nothing on websites on the computer. I sell it to people who walk through that door, I sell it in person,” Cook says.

He says he’s not sure why someone would use the name of his business to steal from unsuspecting victims, but hopes it will stop soon.

“I’m out of control of it. I don’t know what to do,” Cook continued.

The Better Business Bureau has a few tips so you can avoid becoming a victim of a scam like this:

Be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true. Verify the website and contact the business directly. Read all the terms and understand refund policies.

Visit Better Business Bureau to find out more.

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