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Contractor Scams

Many illegal contractor scams are so outrageous, they're featured on the nightly news, and all too often. Take a look below at some of the news coverage we've collected. You'll see unscrupulous "contractors" who offer too-good-to-be-true deals, scammers who run off with deposit money, and others who claimed to be experts, but ended up damaging the homes they were repairing.

L&I works closely with industry and consumer groups to combat Washington's underground contractors. In 2011 staff were reorganized to focus more time on tracking down illegal activities, and since then we have visited over 40% more work sites and boosted infractions from 1,241 in FY 2011 to 1,646 in FY 2012.

Illegal, unregistered contractors don't just harm consumers, they undercut the honest builders who are following the rules.

To report a problem, contact Shari Purves-Reiter at Shari.Purves-Reiter@lni.wa.gov or 360-902-4733.

Have a news story about contractor fraud you don't see below? Send it to us!

Recent news stories

• Paving scammers target local property owners (www.komonews.com), KOMO, March 16, 2015.
• Yakima woman loses money to fake contractor (www.kimatv.com), KIMA, February 9, 2015.
• Ripped off by an unregistered contractor? Telling L&I will help you and others (www.tacomaweekly.com), Tacoma Weekly, January 21, 2015.
• More victims claim ripoff by Woodland scam artist (koin.com), KOIN, January 26, 2015.
• Clever disguises for door-to-door rip-offs, USA Today (www.usatoday.com), November 2, 2014.
• Warranty may only be as good as the company (www.wfmynews2.com), WFMY, July 18, 2014.
• Bad contractor locked up for ripping off subcontractors (www.king5.com), KING5, May 22, 2012.
• Paving scam: "It makes me sick" (www.kimatv.com), KIMATV, May 7, 2012.
• What you need to know before hiring a contractor (www.king5.com), KING5, March 22, 2012.
• Avoid ‘contractor roulette' as home improvement season heats up (www.komonews.com), KOMO, March 6, 2012.
• Liens put on homes after contractor doesn't pay suppliers (www.king5.com), KING5, March 6, 2012.
• Contractor accused of cheating customers out of thousands (www.kirotv.com), KIRO, February 8, 2012.
• State reminds homeowners to check contractors' credentials in storms' aftermath (www.issaquahpress.com), The Issaquah Press, January 29, 2012.
• Beware of shoddy, illegal contractors for storm cleanup work (www.q13fox.com), Q13 FOX News, January 25, 2012.
• Fraud Flashpoints: A look at Washington Department of L&I's effort to ‘beat down' fraud losses (www.corporatecomplianceinsights.com), Corporate Compliance Insights, December 2, 2011.
• Man's history of customer, employee complaints runs deep (www.kirotv.com), KIRO, October 27, 2011.