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 FOX 4 News, a North Texas contractor pleaded guilty to theft of property and received a 30-year sentence; prosecutors say four clients lost more than $300,000 combined, none of it recovered. Police say he kept taking jobs while on deferred adjudication for a similar case in a neighboring county.
Per News4Jax, Florida's Attorney General and CFO told residents in the 25 counties under a state of emergency to verify contractor credentials, hold off on signing anything until they know who they are dealing with, and photograph damage before and after repairs. The AG's office also flagged unsolicited texts offering tree service 'in coordination with your insurer' as a scam.
Per the Alabama Reporter, the BBB of Central and South Alabama warned storm victims about unrequested repairs, on-the-spot pressure, too-good-to-be-true prices and demands for a large deposit before work starts. It singled out assignment-of-benefits clauses that let a contractor collect from the insurer directly, and advised paying only against an invoice.
Per WKYT, a Louisville homeowner paid more than $67,000 three years ago for flooring and an accessible bedroom-and-bathroom addition; the floors were torn up and the addition never started. The contractor pleaded guilty in July to theft by deception of $10,000 or more and is due to be sentenced on Oct. 27.
Per WKOW, a Columbia County contractor is charged with one count of felony theft by contractor after a Columbus homeowner paid more than $45,000 for accessibility work and estimated about $30,000 of it was never done. The family hired someone else to finish; the charge is an allegation.
Per KOMO News, the BBB urged homeowners to call their insurer first, collect several written estimates and refuse large up-front payments or requests to sign over insurance checks. It counted 106 contractor-scam reports with about $1.3 million in losses over the past year.
Per WJLA, a Northern Virginia contractor was arrested on three Prince William County felony warrants alleging construction fraud; a homeowner says the now-dissolved firm took a $34,000 deposit for a kitchen and flooring job that never started. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Per the Business Observer, Florida's Attorney General alleges the company went door to door after Hurricanes Ian and Milton, signed at least 80 homeowners to one-sided contingency agreements and kept over $1 million in payments and insurance funds for work it did not complete. The company has not been found liable; the claims are allegations in a civil suit.
Connecticut's Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection told residents to check a contractor's registration and insurance, insist on a written contract and be wary of door-to-door offers or demands for full payment up front.
Per Patch, Brigantine police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office charged a construction-company foreman with theft by deception, criminal impersonation and forgery, alleging he billed homeowners for made-up permit, testing and legal costs and used spoofed phone numbers to pose as officials and an attorney. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Per Roofing Contractor, Mobile's city council revoked the license of a roofing and window company while police look into more than 100 customer complaints, with reported losses above $900,000. The same roundup notes a door-to-door roofing investigation in Redmond, Washington, and a Florida AG lawsuit against a roofer over liens.
Per Local 21 News, York County Regional Police charged a deck-building contractor with theft by deception and taking advance payment without doing the work, after a couple says the refund they asked for never came. The accusations add to earlier cases in other counties; a preliminary hearing is set for October.
Per WJHG, federal prosecutors, the FBI and the Bay County Sheriff's Office warned of unlicensed crews charging inflated prices for cleanup and repairs, and urged homeowners to check a contractor's state license and permits before paying anything.
Per the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, a husband and wife who ran a Fort Worth custom architecture and construction company were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud; prosecutors said more than 40 clients across roughly two dozen projects paid installments that were pooled in one account and spent on unrelated jobs. He received 78 months in prison, she received one month, and both were ordered to pay about $2.79 million in restitution.
Per Houston Public Media, the Harris County Attorney's Office filed two civil lawsuits accusing nine defendants of using forged signatures, fake identities and fraudulent paperwork to record deeds on at least ten houses, many of them belonging to owners who had died. The county says rightful owners lost access to several of the homes and that some were then sold or rented; the allegations have not been tested in court.
Per LevittownNow, Falls Township police obtained an arrest warrant charging a Bucks County man with home improvement fraud and theft by deception after homeowners reported paying half the agreed price up front for work that was supposed to start and finish in early July and never began. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Per 95.3 MNC, the St. Joseph County Police Department warned Michiana residents about people going door to door while claiming to represent established local companies, quoting a price for work a home supposedly needs, then demanding more money without finishing it. Police advise checking a contractor's credentials through independent sources and getting all work and pricing in writing before agreeing to anything.
Per WPXI, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office charged a local contractor with home improvement fraud, theft by deception and deceptive business practices after five clients reported paying a combined $99,169 for jobs left undone before he stopped responding. Investigators allege bank records show the money going to casino and sports-betting spending; the charges are allegations.
Per the Nassau County District Attorney, four defendants and their companies are accused of filing altered or borrowed workers' compensation certificates with county Consumer Affairs to obtain home improvement licenses. A license on the wall is not proof of active coverage, so homeowners can confirm insurance with the carrier directly; the charges are allegations.
For National Preparedness Month, the FTC advises lining up a contractor while there is no emergency: get recommendations from people you trust and search the company name alongside words like scam or complaint. It also suggests photographing and listing what you own now, which helps later with insurance claims and repair estimates.
A WLRN investigation reports that Florida regulators have let home repair companies facing nearly 300 combined consumer complaints and state attorney general action stay licensed. Complaints described financing signed without full disclosure and liens placed on homes, so an active license alone does not show a contractor is safe to pay.
Per WRTV, the Indiana Attorney General sued four tree-removal and storm-repair companies, alleging unlicensed work, misleading contracts and charges far above the quoted price. One suit alleges an elderly Lake County homeowner was charged $35,000 to take down two trees.
The Michigan Attorney General's office reissued its storm-related consumer alerts, urging homeowners not to rush repair decisions after damage. The guidance: check credentials, get the work in writing, and be wary of crews that press for a large payment up front.
Nassau County police say a homeowner paid a Farmingdale renovation company $68,512 in full and no work was ever started or completed. The 65-year-old operator was arraigned on grand larceny, forged-instrument and unlicensed-contractor counts; the charges are allegations.
The Better Business Bureau reports about 15,000 complaints last year about home-warranty companies, including deceptive mailers and trouble cancelling. Per BBB, some mailings copy lender details from public records so the notice looks official.
Per KNOE, Shreveport police are seeking a man on a residential contractor fraud count after two homeowners paid over $310,000 toward a roughly $444,000 build. Investigators say his contractor licence had lapsed four years before the contract was signed; the allegation is unproven.
Per Roofing Contractor, a Smith County judge sentenced a Van, Texas roofer to five years of community supervision and $64,000 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to financial abuse of an elderly person. Prosecutors said the crew told a 71-year-old homeowner her roof was unstable, collected checks and cash, then damaged the roof themselves and covered it with about $1,800 of materials.
Per Insurance Journal, the Missouri attorney general's office announced prison terms and $191,975 in restitution for the owner of a residential construction business convicted of felony deceptive business practices and stealing. Prosecutors said he collected payments up front, then did little or no work before abandoning the projects.
Per the Colorado attorney general's office, a contractor was charged with felony counts including forgery, theft and contributing to a hazardous-substance incident after a Boulder family paid him $8,400 for a basement job requiring asbestos handling. The office alleges he misrepresented his permits and had not held state asbestos certification since 2018; the family then paid roughly $17,700 to a licensed firm to redo the work. The charges are allegations and have not been tried.
Per News4Jax, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office arrested a Yulee man on charges of organized fraud and contracting without certification after a homeowner reported paying at least $8,700 for work that was never completed. Investigators say other customers were affected and are asking anyone in the same position to come forward; the charges are allegations.
Per Scioto Post, the Ohio attorney general's office urged residents cleaning up after severe storms and flooding to research contractors, insist on written estimates and contracts, and refuse anyone demanding immediate payment or pressing for a decision on the doorstep. The office pointed residents to its consumer protection section to check and file complaints.
Per NBC10 Philadelphia, township police charged a Philadelphia home-improvement contractor with felony counts including home improvement fraud and theft by deception after three Lower Bucks County homeowners reported paying $178,291 toward additions and a renovation that were never finished or never begun. Bail was set at 10% of $750,000; the charges are allegations and the case has not been tried.
Per Limitless News, prosecutors in Hennepin County charged a contractor with three felony theft-by-swindle counts after homeowners said they paid $10,200 for an egress window and structural drawings that were never delivered. Investigators allege the money went to personal expenses instead of the projects; the counts are accusations and have not been proven in court.
Per WISH-TV, the Indiana attorney general's office told residents recovering from severe storms and flooding to expect door-to-door salespeople posing as contractors, some falsely claiming FEMA will cover the cost of the work. The office urged written contracts, as little money up front as possible, and skepticism toward anyone pressing for a signature on the spot.
A mid-August roundup of Better Business Bureau figures notes that home-improvement complaints climb through peak repair season, with a reported median loss of roughly $1,800 per victim. The pattern repeats: an unsolicited knock at the door, a discount that expires today, and a large payment collected before any work begins.
Per CBS 21, police charged a Harrisburg-area renovation contractor with home improvement fraud and theft counts after a Camp Hill homeowner paid $27,140 and, investigators say, received no work and no refund. Police allege the money was moved out of the business account for personal use; the charges are accusations and the case has not been tried.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office filed a complaint against a Lackawanna County paving company and its owner, alleging high-pressure sales, contract prices raised without the customer's knowledge, abandoned jobs and substandard work. In one alleged case a senior citizen quoted $16,000 ended up paying $32,000; the state is seeking restitution, penalties and a bar on working as a home improvement contractor.
Per KY3, the owner of an Iowa-based roofing company has been charged in Iowa with first-degree theft, insurance fraud and forgery, and faces trial in September. Missouri customers say they paid down payments for roofs that were never finished, and the Missouri Attorney General's office confirmed complaints and publicly urged homeowners to be careful with the company.
The Arizona Attorney General's office warned residents that unlicensed contractors and scammers tend to appear right after severe weather. Its advice: check with your insurer first, verify the license with the state Registrar of Contractors, get several written estimates, and never hand over the full amount up front or pay in gift cards or crypto.
Per KTBS, a financial crimes task force arrested a Shreveport man on one count of residential contractor fraud after a homeowner paid more than $60,000 for repairs and remodeling. Investigators say he worked without a valid state license and much of the work failed inspection; the charge is an accusation and the investigation is ongoing.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office announced a settlement requiring a Philadelphia-area home improvement contractor to pay the Commonwealth $200,000, dissolve six companies, and never again own or operate a home improvement business in the state. The underlying suit alleged he took substantial customer payments and then failed to perform the work.
The Better Business Bureau urges homeowners repairing storm damage to treat unsolicited repair offers with caution, verify licenses and insurance, gather several written estimates, and keep payments tied to a detailed written contract instead of a large sum handed over up front.
Per Patch, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department arrested a Lake Arrowhead design-and-remodel business owner on nine felony and misdemeanor counts, including theft by false pretenses and diversion of construction funds, after a homeowner wrote a $67,500 check up front for a kitchen and bathroom remodel. Investigators say other homeowners may have been affected and asked them to come forward; the counts are allegations.
Per News4Jax, a St. Johns County homebuilder who pleaded guilty to 45 felony counts was sentenced to the maximum five years in prison followed by 30 years of probation. Homeowners addressed the court about unfinished houses and millions of dollars in losses.
Per FOX23 Maine, an Androscoggin County grand jury indicted the owner of a Lewiston contracting and roofing company on felony theft and home-repair-fraud counts after several homeowners said they paid for work that was never completed. A separate civil settlement calls for more than $114,000 in restitution and penalties. The criminal charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Per Insurance Journal, a Missouri contractor was sentenced on 43 felony counts — 42 for deceptive business practices plus one for stealing — and ordered to repay more than $257,300 to homeowners. The state Attorney General's office brought the case; the sentence also bars him from running a home-renovation or fencing business.
Suffolk County police charged a contractor with third-degree grand larceny and acting as an unlicensed contractor after a Stony Brook homeowner said the renovation she had paid for was abandoned before completion, per Daily Voice. Detectives said additional homeowners may have been affected. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau alerted Texas property owners that dishonest contractors follow severe flooding, using high-pressure pitches, demands for large upfront payments, and pressure to sign over insurance benefits. NICB urges homeowners to call their insurer, read every document, and verify a contractor's credentials before committing.
Per WGME, a Cumberland County grand jury indicted the owner of a southern Maine sealcoating and paving company on four counts of theft by unauthorized taking and three counts of home repair fraud. Investigators allege he collected upfront payments from several homeowners for driveway and other work that was never finished; court records cited by the station note prior home-repair-fraud convictions. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Per WFTV and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, a Naples man was sentenced to four years in federal prison and ordered to forfeit about $1.26 million after posing as a contractor to repair an elderly homeowner's hurricane-damaged house. Prosecutors said he collected 35 checks for supposed construction materials, never pulled permits, and held no Florida contractor license.
Per Atlanta News First, a homeowner paid a contractor roughly $210,000 from a $250,000 insurance settlement for storm repairs, then found the work incomplete and the chimney built improperly — a rebuild quoted at about $35,000. The station confirmed the contractor held no state residential contractor license and pulled no building permits, and notes that unlicensed contractors cannot legally pull permits.
Per KPLC, a Lake Charles homeowner who paid nearly $24,000 for hurricane repairs that were never finished lost any chance of criminal charges when the four-year window for residential contractor fraud expired before the contractor was located. The local district attorney said the delay could not be paused, leaving civil court as the only remaining option — a reminder to report suspected contractor fraud early. A regional post-hurricane task force logged 417 complaints and 227 arrests over four years.
Per Roofing Contractor, the Ohio Attorney General filed suit against a Mahoning Valley roofing and landscaping business and its owner after four homeowners complained, alleging he took down payments and then abandoned or failed to finish the work. The state alleges violations of Ohio's consumer sales and home solicitation sales laws and is seeking restitution, civil penalties and injunctive relief. The allegations are unproven.
Per WFSB and the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut, homeowners repairing storm damage should research any contractor before signing, verify a Home Improvement Contractor registration number with the state, and confirm the company carries liability insurance. The BBB flagged unsolicited door-to-door offers, pressure to sign quickly, and large deposits collected before work is finished as warning signs.
Per News4Jax, a St. Johns County homebuilder pleaded guilty to 45 felony charges tied to a construction-fraud scheme that left multiple Nocatee-area homeowners with unfinished homes and millions of dollars in losses. Under a negotiated plea agreement he agreed to pay roughly $8.7 million in restitution, including a $1 million payment at sentencing to be distributed among victims by their share of losses.
Per Action News Jax, a St. Johns County cabinetry business owner was arrested on grand-theft and scheme-to-defraud charges after investigators say he accepted about $18,756 in deposits for custom cabinetry, made repeated excuses, requested more money, and never delivered the finished work. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
Per Roofing Contractor, the National Insurance Crime Bureau warned Illinois homeowners about contractor fraud after severe weather, citing a June derecho with wind gusts up to 85 mph and an unusually active tornado season. Red flags include unsolicited post-storm offers, claimed insurance-company affiliation, cash-only demands, full payment before work begins, and offers to waive insurance deductibles.
Per NewsCenter1, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley urged residents to be cautious of fraudulent home-repair contractors during severe-weather season, warning about out-of-state operators who go door-to-door with high-pressure pitches and then fail to deliver roofing or paving work after being paid. Officials advised getting agreements in writing, obtaining multiple local quotes, and never paying in full before the job is finished.
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.
Check every contractor's license against state licensing records.