Beware! Baltimore Seniors are Getting Scammed by Fake Contractors!

Baltimore Seniors need to be careful when hiring a contractor to do work on their homes. Recently, at least one person has been approaching Seniors in the Canton/Highlandtown/Dundalk area and promising them quality contracting work.  “There was a guy doing work for someone nearby. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about, and gave all the right answers about our kitchen remodel. I trusted him because he was doing work for someone I knew, and had completed a previous job that I knew of,” said a Senior homeowner from the Canton/Highlandtown area, “so we gave him $8,000 to start on the kitchen. That was 2 months ago, and we haven’t heard from him since. Turns out he wasn’t even a licensed contractor.” In this case, the con man had previously been convicted on operating as a contractor without a license. Here are some tips to lessen the chances of being ripped off:

1. Call the Maryland Home Improvement Commission at 410-230-6309 to find out if the person you are considering is actually a licensed contractor. You can also find out if that person has any complaints against them. 

2. Log on to maryland case search to find out if the person you’re considering has a record in the Maryland Court system.

3. Put the contract in writing before you hand over any money.  A contract will ensure that both parties are clear about their rights and responsibilities.

4. Give the contractor as little money as possible upfront, and schedule payments to coincide with work completed. The contractor will be more motivated if he knows that he won’t get paid until he does the work.

If you’ve been scammed, you can call your local Office of the State’s Attorney or file a civil lawsuit.