If this story sounds a little fishy, that's because it is. A recent classified in the Wichita Falls Times Record News advertising free stocker fish seemed too good to be true, and as many Texomans are finding out--that's because it is.

From October 17th through the 26th, the deceptive classified ran in the Wichita Falls Times Record News. Since then, between 15 and 20 complaint calls came in to the North Central Texas Better Business Bureau. After investigating the company, the bureau discovered the Arkla-Texoma Fish Hatchery has a questionable reputation, and TRN immediately removed the ad.

The BBB reported that the Arkla-Texoma Fish Hatchery has claims filed in several state including Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Consumers claimed in order to get free fish, you have to buy a large quantity, and some said the company charged them for fish that were never delivered, sometimes double the advertised amount.

"When consumers did get deliveries the fish were dead, and in some situations just real hostile with them and talked to them abusively when they started asking questions or decided they didn't want to do business with them," said a spokesperson with the BBB. Which is exactly what happened to Sharon McWhirter. She called to see if the company would delivery fish to her elderly parents who live in Albany.

"He became real rude and beligerant with me and said he wasn't going to waste his time with me if i didn't have a stock pond or a tank. I told him he was very rude and i hung up on him," McWhirter said. But it didn't end there. Owner of Arkla-Texoma Fish Hatchery, Rex Alan Curtis, called back. This time with a threat. "He said if he knew how to find my number he would find my house and knock on my door and see if u would call him rude to his face," McWhirter said. McWhirter turned Curtis into the BBB, who has given the company an "F" rating. McWhirter said she's just glad it was her, and not her elderly parents, this con artist tried to take advantage of. "What goes around comes around and he's going to find his someday. But there's a lot of people out there that i think would've just fallen for that ad and i think he needs to be stopped," McWhirter said.

Charges filed by the Arkansas Attorney General against Rex Allen Curtis are pending. Monica Horton with the North Central Texas Better Business Bureau says Texas State Officials are also investigating whether Curtis has a valid aquaculture license.

You can protect yourself from becoming a victim of scams like this... The BBB says to follow your gut... If it seems questionable- just give the BBB a call or check out their website before making any major purchases. We've provided a link to it Here on our Website.