Yesterday afternoon, officers located a fugitive driving in the area of Scott and Harrison who was wanted on a 2 million dollar warrant out of Contra Costa County for Burglary, Theft and Elder Abuse. A vehicle stop was initiated and the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was involved in fraudulent general contractor scams, primarily targeting elderly victims by taking payments for work that was never completed.
To prevent falling victim to contractor scams, consider these tips:
Consider only contractors who are licensed and insured. Check with your state or county government to confirm a contractor’s license, and ask the contractor for proof of insurance.
Get contractor recommendations from people you know and trust.
Check with consumer protection officials (https://www.usa.gov/state-consumer) to see if they have complaints against a contractor. Also search online for the company’s name with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.”
Read customer reviews to find out more about the contractor and use online rating websites you trust to see what others are saying about the contractor.
Get multiple estimates. A written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price. Don’t automatically choose the lowest bidder. And ask for an explanation if there’s a big difference among the estimates.
Be wary if a contractor asks for a large or full down payment.
