Real, current reports of contractor fraud, storm-repair scams, and disappearing deposits — the exact failures TrustConstruct is built to prevent.
+38%
Reported contractor fraud, 2023 → 2025
Source: NICB
23
Billion-dollar U.S. disasters in 2025 — each a wave of repair scams
Source: NICB
$131,886
Lost by 16 families in a single storm-repair scam
Source: Reported, MO
Per the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, six men were charged after a Contractors State License Board sting in the Pacific Palisades wildfire-recovery area, where investigators posing as homeowners solicited bids for rebuilding and demolition work. Officials say the men advertised construction services without a license and collectively bid up to $1.27 million; contracting without a license during a declared disaster is charged as a felony. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per KAIT, a Paragould-area contractor was arrested on a felony theft-of-property charge after a customer said he took a $23,750 down payment for a commercial building and never started the work. A judge found probable cause, and investigators say the man has faced similar accusations before. The charge is an allegation that has not been proven in court.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and the Department of Consumer Protection cautioned residents cleaning up after recent storms to watch for door-to-door contractors who manufacture urgency, quote suspiciously low prices, demand cash, or work without a written contract — some falsely claiming to represent utility companies. Officials reminded homeowners that every home-improvement job must have a written contract and a verifiable contractor registration number.
Per FOX 56, police in Richmond, Kentucky urged residents recovering from flooding to be cautious of opportunistic contractors during cleanup, warning that scammers often target disaster victims with unsolicited repair offers and demands for money up front. Officials encouraged homeowners to verify credentials and get terms in writing before paying.
Per Valley News Live, police warned residents that after recent severe storms, scammers have been phoning homeowners claiming they are on the way to inspect storm damage or provide a 'free estimate' for appointments the residents never made. Officials advised hanging up and not sharing personal or insurance details with unsolicited callers.
Per the Illinois Attorney General's office, residents cleaning up after recent southern Illinois storms should watch for 'storm chasers' and scammers posing as public adjusters who offer 'free' inspections. Officials flagged red flags — unsolicited door-to-door pitches, bids far below market, contractors reachable only by phone or P.O. box, and refusal to show proof of insurance — and reminded homeowners they have three business days to cancel a contract signed at home.
Per the Springfield Daily Citizen, the Missouri Attorney General charged a Republic-area contractor with 26 felony counts — including deceptive business practices, financial exploitation of the elderly or disabled, stealing by deceit and lien fraud — after homeowners allegedly paid deposits for barndominium-style homes and shop-houses that were never completed, with losses near $330,000. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per Insurance Journal, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office secured indictments against a Quincy roofing company and its owner on workers'-compensation insurance fraud and larceny charges, alleging the business underreported more than $1.5 million in payroll to avoid roughly $585,000 in insurance premiums. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per the Indiana Attorney General's office, officials urged residents in Gibson, Scott, Jefferson and Warrick counties — hit by a June tornado outbreak — to beware of unlicensed 'storm chasers' pushing fast repairs. Homeowners are advised to verify licensing and bonding, insist on written contracts, and avoid upfront cash, wire or crypto payments.
Per AOL and Manatee County deputies, a Tampa subcontractor was arrested on a felony scheme-to-defraud charge after investigators say he directed homeowners to pay him directly instead of the roofing company, collected about $63,000, and left the work undone. The charge is an allegation that has not been proven in court.
Per CBS Miami, state investigators arrested a Miami-Dade man on grand theft, organized fraud and unlicensed-contracting charges after a Catholic school paid more than $220,000 for roof repairs that prosecutors say were never done. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per the Pennsylvania Attorney General, a contractor was charged with felony theft and home-improvement fraud after allegedly taking more than $80,000 in deposits from four homeowners — two of them seniors — for materials he never bought, instead spending the money on personal expenses. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia, homeowners repairing storm damage should watch for high-pressure pitches, estimates with hidden non-compete clauses, suspiciously low bids, and contractors who encourage inflating insurance claims. The BBB urges residents not to sign on the spot and to verify a contractor's record first.
Per WBNG, a Frankfort, NY man was sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to grand larceny; prosecutors say a client paid him more than $360,000 for septic, electrical, foundation and small-home work that was billed as complete but largely left undone.
Per Roofing Contractor, the West Virginia Attorney General accused a Winfield roofing contractor of collecting customer deposits, failing to complete the work, and refusing refunds; the suit alleges several homeowners paid thousands of dollars with little or nothing to show for it. The claims are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per the Better Business Bureau, residents recovering from flooding should be wary of unsolicited repair contractors who show up door-to-door, demand large upfront payments, or use high-pressure tactics — and should also watch for flood-damaged vehicles quietly resold to buyers.
Per WRAL, a Charlotte-area roofing project manager was charged with insurance fraud, attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, and conspiracy after investigators say he and a co-worker deliberately damaged shingles on a monitored home and filed false storm-damage claims. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
The Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services cautioned residents that dishonest contractors known as 'storm chasers' may pitch repairs after severe weather, then disappear once they have been paid. Officials urged homeowners to avoid large upfront cash payments and to verify a contractor's licensing before hiring.
Per NBC Bay Area, a large Sacramento-region accessory dwelling unit (ADU) builder stopped working and had its contractor license suspended after its required bond was canceled amid mounting complaints. Homeowners and subcontractors reported paying large upfront sums with little to show for it — a reminder to verify a builder's license and bond before handing over money.
Per KGNS, Laredo police arrested a contractor accused of taking a homeowner's $9,300 insurance check for roof repairs that were never completed; he was served with a warrant for theft, a state-jail felony.
Per WSAW, officials warned Marathon County residents that out-of-area 'storm chasers' flooded neighborhoods after recent hailstorms, pushing on-the-spot roof contracts and demanding 25–30% deposits up front — a common scam red flag.
Per the FTC, federal and Illinois officials sued a Chicago-based company and its owner alleged to have created thousands of fake online listings for local home-repair businesses — padded with fabricated five-star reviews — to mislead homeowners into hiring them.
Per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Nevada Attorney General charged three men tied to a now-defunct remodeling company with felony fraud and theft after homeowners allegedly paid large deposits for renovations that were never finished, with combined losses topping $100,000.
Per St. George News, a Washington City man was arrested on felony charges after allegedly taking an $8,000 deposit for landscaping that was never started; investigators say he posed as a licensed contractor and that related cases bring combined losses past $42,000.
Arizona's Attorney General warned residents that people posing as contractors are collecting large upfront payments for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), then failing to pull permits or start work — with some victims reportedly losing up to $250,000.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau marked its sixth Contractor Fraud Awareness Week (May 18–22), reporting that contractor fraud climbed roughly 38% from 2023 to 2025 and spikes after natural disasters as scammers chase storm-recovery work.
Per local reporting and officials, 16 customers — many of them 2025 tornado victims — paid deposits for repairs that were barely started or never done, losing a combined $131,886 before charges were filed.
Per WGME, a Maine homeowner paid a $6,300 deposit for siding work that never began, then won a court judgment but remains unpaid more than a year later. The report notes Maine does not require general contractor licensing, leaving homeowners with few protections — a reminder to vet contractors and avoid large upfront deposits.
Mesa, AZ police arrested a suspect who allegedly used fake names to pose as a licensed contractor, with reported losses topping $100,000. Investigators say they are still seeking additional victims.
Clarksville police cautioned residents about people going door-to-door offering quick, discounted repairs — then collecting large upfront deposits for work that never begins or is left unfinished.
State officials urged caution as scammers exploit disaster recovery — pressuring homeowners to sign immediately, demanding cash, and abusing insurance assignment-of-benefits agreements.
The FTC's guidance: never pay in full upfront, be wary of cash-only or high-pressure pitches, verify licensing, and get everything in writing before work starts.
A state consumer-protection primer on spotting red flags — unlicensed operators, upfront-deposit demands, and no written contract — before handing over money.
Curated from public reports and official alerts. Headlines link to the original sources; we summarize, we don't republish. Criminal matters reflect charges or allegations as reported.
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