Contractor fraud is not a distant problem. A Millbury, Massachusetts homeowner named Liz Pereira paid thousands of dollars to a charming contractor named Jason for masonry and waterproofing work that, she says, never fixed her problems. Her warning, reported by NBC Connecticut Responds after a six-month investigation: "Don't believe the kindness. He's a manipulator, a liar."
Her story is not unique. Across New England and the rest of the country, law enforcement agencies, state attorneys general, and federal investigators are all sounding the same alarm right now: contractor scams are rising, and homeowners who move fast or skip basic verification steps are the ones who get hurt.
This guide walks you through exactly what to watch for, how to verify a contractor before you hand over a dollar, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Why Contractor Scams Are So Common Right Now
Disasters create urgency, and urgency is a scammer's best tool. After flooding, storms, or any sudden damage, homeowners feel pressure to act fast. Fraudulent contractors exploit that pressure directly.
As NICB President and CEO David Glawe put it in a warning to Illinois homeowners after severe weather:
"After destructive storms, most families and businesses want to start the recovery process as soon as possible. This is when home and business owners must be most vigilant, as fraudsters use this opportunity to swoop in."
You do not need to be recovering from a disaster to be targeted, though. The NBC Connecticut investigation found that the same contractor operated under at least five different company names tied to masonry, waterproofing, chimney, and foundation work, moving between Connecticut and Massachusetts. Homeland Security Investigations told NBC Connecticut that this kind of pattern has been rising across New England over the last few years, and that fraud groups are hard to track because they "reinvent themselves" and move from state to state.
The lesson for Massachusetts homeowners: the risk is ongoing, not just seasonal.
Red Flags to Watch For Before You Sign Anything
Every recent law enforcement advisory points to the same cluster of warning signs. Learn to recognize them before you are standing in your driveway talking to someone you just met.
They Show Up Uninvited
Legitimate contractors rarely knock on your door unsolicited. Gulf Coast officials warned that scammers often show up unannounced, sometimes claiming to have leftover materials from a nearby job or offering unusually low prices. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul echoed this directly: "Be wary of any individual who solicits home repair or insurance adjusting services door to door," he said in a storm scam advisory.
They Demand Large Upfront Payments
This is the single most consistent red flag across every source in this piece. A contractor who demands full payment, or a very large deposit, before any work begins is a serious risk. Richmond Police in Kentucky specifically listed "demands for upfront payment to schedule work" as a top warning sign in their flood-fraud advisory.
The Florida case reported by WFTV shows exactly how this plays out: a Palm Coast couple wired $40,000 to a contractor in December after signing an agreement. Deputies say the contractor showed up once, painted a single wall, then stopped responding entirely. Bank records showed the money went to cash withdrawals, Zelle transfers, and an online auction site for signed baseball cards. None of it went to materials for the home.
Sheriff Rick Staly summed it up bluntly: "This contractor's version of 'if you build it, he will come' was build nothing, take the cash, and buy baseball cards."
They Pressure You to Decide Immediately
High-pressure sales tactics are a deliberate strategy. Gulfport PD PIO Lt. Jason Ducre advised residents to slow down:
"Storm repair can be stressful as it is and if you rush into it, it can make a bad situation even worse. So, you want to verify. You want to do your research before handing someone a lot of money."
Richmond Police also flagged pressure to quickly sign electronic documents as a specific tactic to watch for.
They Claim FEMA Approval or Government Affiliation
FEMA does not endorse or approve individual contractors. Indiana officials warned that FEMA does not charge application fees for federal disaster aid, and Richmond Police listed "claims to be approved by FEMA or other agencies" as a top scam indicator.
The Price Seems Too Good to Be True
The Washington state case is instructive here. According to KIRO 7, Construction Kings won jobs by submitting low bids, then allegedly did little or no work. The result: more than 40 complaints, over $1.19 million in damages to homeowners, and claims ranging from $2,800 to more than $200,000. Washington's Department of Labor and Industries ultimately suspended the contractor's registration and referred the case to multiple law enforcement agencies and the state Attorney General's Office.
How to Verify a Massachusetts Contractor Before You Hire
Verification is not complicated, but it does require a few deliberate steps. Do not skip them.
Check the State License Registry
In Massachusetts, home improvement contractors must be registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR). Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians hold separate state licenses. Before you hire anyone, look them up by name and license number on the state registry.
A directory like Tavlee can make this step faster. Tavlee is a contractor directory that verifies licenses against the state registry, so you can start with a pre-screened list rather than doing every lookup from scratch. That said, always confirm the license status yourself on the official state site before signing anything.
Get at Least Three Written Estimates
Multiple estimates serve two purposes: they give you a realistic price range, and they make it much harder for a single contractor to pressure you into a rushed decision. Every advisory cited in this piece, from the Illinois Attorney General to the NICB to local police departments, recommends this step. NICB specifically advises getting multiple estimates and ensuring all work details are in a written contract before work begins.
Require a Written Contract With No Blanks
Richmond Police advise ensuring contract terms are in writing with no blank spaces left to be filled in later. The contract should specify the scope of work, materials, timeline, payment schedule, and warranty terms. In Massachusetts, home improvement contracts over a certain dollar threshold are required by law to be in writing.
Check References and Reviews Critically
The NBC Connecticut investigation is a useful reminder that reviews can be gamed and charm can be manufactured. Six homeowners described the same contractor as initially trustworthy and personable. Check reviews across multiple platforms, look for patterns in complaints, and actually call references rather than just reading them.
Verify Insurance and Permits
A legitimate contractor carries liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Ask for proof of both and verify them. Also confirm that any required permits will be pulled before work starts. Unpermitted work can create serious problems when you sell your home or file an insurance claim.
Never Pay in Full Upfront
A reasonable deposit is normal. Full payment before work is complete is not. Richmond Police advise withholding full payment until the work is done and inspected. Tie your final payment to a walkthrough where you confirm the work meets the contract terms.
Also avoid paying by wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, or cash when possible. These payment methods are difficult or impossible to reverse if something goes wrong. Credit cards offer more consumer protection.
If You Think You Have Been Scammed
Act quickly. The longer you wait, the harder it is to recover money or build a case.
- File a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. The AG's consumer protection division handles contractor fraud.
- Contact the Massachusetts OCABR. If the contractor holds a home improvement registration, OCABR can investigate and take disciplinary action.
- Report to local police. A formal report creates a record that can support a broader investigation.
- Report to the NICB. The National Insurance Crime Bureau accepts fraud reports by phone at (800) 835-6422 or through an online form, per Richmond Police guidance.
- Document everything. Save contracts, receipts, texts, emails, and photos of the work (or lack of it). This documentation is what investigators need.
The Bottom Line
Contractor fraud follows a predictable playbook: urgency, charm, a low price or a big promise, and a request for money before any real work happens. The cases covered here, from Massachusetts to Florida to Washington state, all follow the same pattern.
The defense is straightforward: slow down, verify the license on the state registry, get everything in writing, and never pay in full before the job is done and inspected. Tools like Tavlee can help you start with a list of contractors whose licenses have already been checked, but the final verification step is always yours to take.
A few hours of research before you hire is far less painful than months of trying to recover $40,000 after the fact.
