The Better Business Bureau is warning of another scam making the rounds, this time involving the supposed sale of puppies.

According to Kristen Matthews, Marketing and Communications Manager with the BBB, the scam typically involves a heart-wrenching story about a family member who has become ill, and thus their dog needs to be re-homed.

Usually, the scammer will say that the dog is free, but asks the victim to go through a particular shipping company and pay the associated fees, which can be between $400 and $500.

She says once the money is sent, the seller and shipper become unreachable and the puppy never comes.

Matthews says such scams became popular over the course of the pandemic because many people were working from home and looking for companions to add to the family. She says their research shows that in 2021 online purchase scams were the third riskiest scam, and pets/pet supplies were the riskiest category in online shopping scams.