Michael Michaud has always loved photography.

When he needed a new camera, he went shopping for one online. He scanned dozens of Web sites for the best price and model and his search eventually ended at stop4camera.com.

"Lowest price with an extra lens and all that, so I went for it," Michaud said.

The camera and lens he wanted was $250 cheaper than everywhere else.

It was a deal that sounded too good to be true, Michaud said. Hours after placing the order, he said, he got a phone call from a Web site representative asking him to verify his purchase and then asking if he would buy another battery, more memory and extended warranties, Michaud said.

He declined.

"Well, then he told me it was on backorder," Michaud said.

He said another two weeks went by and he did not receive the camera, so he called again.

"He says, well if you order this extra stuff we can send you your camera a lot quicker,” Michaud said. “That's when I asked to speak to the manager and of course, the manager wasn't there."

According to the Better Business Bureau, stop4camera.com is just one of several camera-equipment Web sites based in Brooklyn, N.Y. with unsatisfactory records.

Other Web sites accused of similar tactics include wisetronics.com, 86photovideo.com, mywirelessdeal.com and fotoconnection.com and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said his office is investigating all of them.

"If a consumer is not provided with a product and price as advertised, we want to know about it and we'll take action and we will investigate," Blumenthal said.

In the last 12 months, the Better Business Bureau reported more than 700 complaints against these companies, almost two-thirds of them specifically address concerns with selling practices.

Benjamin Monroe said the practices are unethical and unfair to customers like himself.

"I've been on a lot of forums and people say watch out for this company out of Brooklyn, they have a lot of different storefronts that aren't really storefronts and a lot of Web sites that aren't real," Monroe said.

A quick check at resellratings.com, a Web site dedicated to consumer reviews, shows hundreds of reviews from "very dissatisfied" stop4camera.com customers - the majority of whom provide warnings to future shoppers.

"This kind of scheme goes to the core of what our consumer protection laws are designed to prevent, which is misleading and deceptive ads," Blumenthal said.

The owner of stop4camera.com released a lengthy statement to NBC 30, insisting that its practices are sound.

"Orders over $150 require additional phone verification to prevent fraud. While on the phone, a Stop4camera service rep might answers questions but would not attempt to 'switch' the product the customer ordered. Prices are accurately advertised, and product availability has nothing to do with the purchase of accessories. If a product is backordered, the customer receives the proper notification," the statement says.

Calls were also made to the owner of wisetronics.com, the parent company of 86photovideo.com and mywirelessdeal.com.

After more than 30 minutes on hold and a customer service representative who initially would not let NBC 30 speak to a manager, we were transferred to voicemail.

"The consumer has a responsibility to stand its ground and say I want the product as advertised," Blumenthal said.

Despite numerous attempts to do just that, Michaud eventually cancelled his order.

The attorney general said the best advice is to do your homework before ordering anything online. A quick check with the Better Business Bureau will give you an idea of what kind of company you're dealing with.

ResellRatings.com

State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Office

Better Business Bureau In Connecticut