GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – After the arrest of a man in the Fox Valley accused of scamming a Brown County couple out of a driveway repair, homeowners are being reminded to make sure anyone they hire is a legitimate contractor.
26-year-old Mico Jody Miller of Texas was arrested in Grand Chute after allegedly defrauding an elderly couple for about $3,000. Susan Bach of the Better Business Bureau says the approach wasn’t unique.
“This particular contractor is one of many that come up from out of state,” Bach tells WTAQ News, “They always will approach you and say that they have left over materials and that if you act now this is your lucky day…A reputable contractor knows exactly how much materials complete a job.”
There are a series of other red flags to keep an eye out for as well. Some of them can be easy enough to identify, but possibly not always the easiest situation to handle.
“They always demand 100-percent of the money up front in cash and they don’t give you any kind of written contract…They don’t give the homeowner time to do any kind of research they want you to act now and not give you a chance to check them out,” Bach says, “When you as a homeowner feel that kind of pressure that the exact moment that you should take a step back and say this doesn’t feel right.”
Most scam situations also involve someone – or a group of individuals – with license plates from another state, like Texas. Any contractors in Wisconsin are required to have selling permits and other licensing through the state. If you are approached for a job like this, a key question for the contractors is whether they can provide those permits for you.
Another concern raised in the case was the age of the alleged victims. Bach says people who might be a bit older could be more susceptible to scams like this.
“They’re more likely to be homeowners. They’re more likely to fall for the pitch: ‘You can’t do this yourself, so let me do this for you.’ – And they have deeper pockets,” Bach explains.
Search BBB.org for paving companies in your area. Also common are “free roof inspection” scams- Learn more about free inspection scams. You can also read BBB’s tips on hiring a contractor.
If you’re the victim of a contractor scam, report the incident to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help alert others to similar scams.
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