It's a crime that hits dozens of Kern County residents every month -- internet scam. A Bakersfield family just lost thousands of dollars, and hopes their hard lesson might help others.

"He never really said how much he would be sending us, but he said that he has a shipper that comes to pick up all his consignments," says a woman who didn't want her named used. "Jane" admits there were warning signs, but she just didn't spot them.

The family had advertised a puppy for sale in the local newspaper, and she was a bit surprised by one of the potential buyers. The man first contacted "Jane" by an operator-assisted phone call.

Then, he only stayed in touch by e-mail. She was also surprised when the buyer said he lived in Vermont. But he was willing to pay $400 for the dog, and said it was for his son's birthday.

But, the next warning sign could have been the three Wal-Mart "Money Grams" for $950 each. That's a total of $2,800 -- and "Jane" e-mailed back to the buyer asking if the overpayment was a mistake.

She says the buyer explained that had to do with his shipper. 'I was going to give the additional cash to the shipper whenever he arrived to pick up the puppy," Jane told Eyewitness News. The scammer said the shipping company driver was on the road, and that's why it was necessary for her to give him the excess cash.

Jane cashed the three Wal-Mart Money-Grams, and that's when the scam took another twist -- one that led to her becomming a vicitm. The scammer's story changed, she was supposed to immediately wire the excess funds to England by Western Union.

"It didn't even cross my mind, why I would send it to London," she confesses. Several days later -- the bank determined the Wal-Mart Money-Grams were counterfeit, and Jane now owed the bank $2,800.

Kern County Sheriff Sgt. Jeff Niccoli says it's an unfortunate, but common story. "I see probably ten of these cases a week," he told Eyewitness News.

Sgt. Niccoli says if you do business over the internet -- stop and ask yourself some important questions. "Why is this person sending me more money than I'm asking for? Why is there some kind of rush?"

Both those things were part of this scam. But what about the Wal-Mart Money-Grams? Sgt. Niccoli says in situations like this, banks initially just check the "routing nummber" -- and make the funds available to the customer.

Later they "confirm" the funds. "When the bank find that it's either a false instrument or the name is wrong, or whatever -- they bounce the check." His advice is to wait several days to be sure the funds are legitimate.

Again, scammers often want the transaction rushed -- and that was part of the story in this case. The scammer said the puppy was for his son's birthday, that the "shipper" needed the money right away, and claimed he always used this "shipper."

Washington Mutual Bank spokesman Gary Kishner said the company has sympathy with victims of scams. But, Kishner says it's the bank's policy to accept something like a money order or check in good faith. "We trust the customer knows who they're getting the money from," says Kishner.

His advice is similar to the Sheriff's sergeant. Wait several days for checks or money orders to completely clear the bank -- and anything that sounds too good to be true, probably is.

Sgt. Niccoli also says be suspicious if an internet transaction starts to get complicated with exchanges of funds. Watch out for any request to send funds out of the country. And, if you think you've been scammed -- contact law enforcement.

Washington Mutual's Gary Kishner told Eyewitness News he was contacted about a very similar case about a year ago. It was a Bakersfield woman who got ripped off trying to sell a cat. The story was almost the same -- even down to the money amounts.

As for "Jane" and her family, Niccoli says his department can't even investigate this case -- simply because they get so many cases like this.

Jane says she understands, and knows it could have been even worse. "Everyone learns from their mistakes, it just didn't quite cost us as much as everyone else -- but it's still frustrating."