Documented cases of contractor fraud, homeowner non-payment, and what structural protection could have prevented.
An Anchorage-area contractor collected substantial deposits from Alaska homeowners for construction and remodeling projects, then failed to complete the work. State prosecutors pursued theft and fraud charges after multiple victims came forward.
A Utah contractor collected large deposits for home construction and remodeling projects, then failed to complete the work, leaving families out hundreds of thousands of dollars. State prosecutors charged him with multiple felony counts after homeowner complaints mounted.
A Nebraska contractor collected substantial deposits from homeowners for remodeling and construction projects, then failed to complete the work or return the money. Authorities charged him after multiple victims came forward with losses topping six figures.
Rhode Island contractor Jason Guertin collected large deposits from homeowners for renovation and construction projects, then failed to complete the work. He faced multiple charges after leaving customers with unfinished jobs and significant financial losses.
A Delaware contractor collected substantial deposits from homeowners for renovation and construction projects, then failed to complete the work or return the money. State prosecutors pursued theft and home improvement fraud charges after multiple victims came forward.
A North Dakota contractor collected large deposits from homeowners for projects he never completed, then fled the state and became the subject of a nationwide manhunt. His case shows how deposit fraud can escalate into far more serious crimes.
A Montana contractor collected substantial deposits from multiple homeowners for construction and remodeling projects, then failed to complete the work. Prosecutors pursued felony theft charges after victims reported hundreds of thousands in losses.
A New Hampshire contractor collected large deposits from homeowners for renovation and building projects, then failed to complete the work or return the money. His case led to criminal theft charges and highlighted gaps in state contractor oversight.
A West Virginia contractor collected large deposits for home projects, then failed to complete the work and left customers thousands of dollars in the hole. State authorities pursued charges after multiple homeowners came forward with similar accounts.
An Idaho contractor collected deposits from homeowners for construction and remodeling projects, then failed to complete the work or vanished with the money. Authorities charged him after multiple victims came forward with losses.
A Kansas contractor collected large deposits from homeowners for remodeling and construction projects, then failed to complete the work or refund the money. Prosecutors charged him with multiple felony theft counts after victims came forward.
An Oklahoma contractor collected large deposits from homeowners for remodeling and construction projects, then failed to complete the work or return the money. State prosecutors pursued charges after multiple victims came forward describing the same pattern.
A Vermont contractor collected large deposits for home projects he never completed, leaving multiple families out hundreds of thousands of dollars. His case highlights how deposit fraud thrives even in small, tight-knit communities where trust runs deep.
A San Diego-area contractor collected millions in deposits for remodels and additions that were never completed, leaving dozens of families with unfinished homes. Prosecutors charged him with grand theft and diversion of construction funds after victims came forward.
A Gulf Coast contractor collected deposits from Mississippi homeowners for construction and remodeling projects, then failed to complete the work or return the money. State prosecutors charged him after multiple victims came forward.
After Hurricane Ida devastated southeast Louisiana in 2021, homeowners eager to rebuild handed deposits to a contractor who never finished the work. State authorities charged him with residential contractor fraud after multiple victims came forward with unfinished projects and unreturned money.
A Missouri contractor collected millions in deposits for home projects he never completed, leaving dozens of families with unfinished work and empty bank accounts. His case highlights how deposit fraud can escalate across an entire region before authorities intervene.
An Alabama contractor collected large deposits from homeowners for construction and remodeling projects, then failed to complete the work or vanished entirely. Prosecutors pursued theft and fraud charges as victims struggled to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A Charleston-area contractor collected large deposits for home construction and renovation projects, then failed to complete the work while diverting client funds. Prosecutors documented losses exceeding $700,000 across multiple victims before securing a conviction.
A Louisville-area contractor collected deposits from multiple homeowners for remodeling and repair work that was never completed or never started. Investigations and homeowner complaints led to theft and fraud charges after victims lost thousands.
A Washington state contractor collected large deposits for home renovation and construction projects, then failed to complete the work while diverting funds. State regulators and prosecutors pursued charges after dozens of homeowners reported losses.
A Las Vegas-area contractor collected large deposits for home renovation and pool projects, then failed to complete the work while operating without proper licensing. Nevada authorities charged him after multiple homeowners reported losses totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
An Oregon contractor collected large deposits for home projects, then abandoned the work and left customers with unfinished homes and empty bank accounts. State regulators and prosecutors pursued him after dozens of complaints piled up.
An Indianapolis-area contractor collected deposits for home projects he never completed, leaving multiple homeowners out tens of thousands of dollars. He faced felony fraud and home improvement contract charges after victims came forward.
An Arizona contractor collected large deposits for home remodeling and pool projects across the Phoenix metro area, then failed to complete the work. State regulators and prosecutors pursued him after dozens of homeowners filed complaints totaling more than $1 million in losses.
Before the headlines, Anthony Todt operated a physical therapy and contracting-style billing scheme that defrauded clients and insurers across multiple states. His financial collapse left victims unpaid and exposed how unchecked fraud can spiral.
A Long Island contractor collected hundreds of thousands in deposits from homeowners for renovations he never completed. Prosecutors charged him with grand larceny and a scheme to defraud after dozens of victims came forward.
A Maryland home improvement contractor collected millions in deposits from dozens of homeowners but left projects abandoned or never started. Authorities charged him with theft and operating without a license after victims came forward across the state.
A Tennessee contractor collected hundreds of thousands in deposits for home projects he never completed, leaving multiple families with unfinished work and empty bank accounts. His case highlights the dangers of paying large upfront sums without protection.
A Massachusetts contractor collected hundreds of thousands in deposits from homeowners for renovation projects he never completed. Prosecutors charged him with larceny after victims reported abandoned jobs and vanished funds.
A Texas contractor collected large deposits for roofing and remodeling jobs across multiple counties, then disappeared without doing the work. Prosecutors charged him after dozens of homeowners reported losses, exposing how repeat offenders exploit the deposit system.
A North Carolina home builder collected large deposits from multiple families for homes that were never completed or never started. He was indicted on numerous fraud and obtaining property by false pretense charges after victims lost their life savings.
An Illinois roofing contractor was convicted after running a scheme that defrauded homeowners and insurance companies through inflated and fraudulent storm-damage claims. The case highlights how insurance fraud schemes harm both homeowners and insurers, leaving property owners with incomplete work and legal exposure.
Wisconsin contractor Tony Hieber took deposits from multiple homeowners for remodeling and construction projects, then failed to complete the work or refund the money. He was charged with multiple felony theft counts after victims came forward.
A Twin Cities-area contractor collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from homeowners for remodeling and construction projects, then failed to complete the work. Prosecutors charged him with multiple counts of theft by swindle after victims came forward.
An Atlanta-area pool builder collected large deposits from homeowners but left projects unfinished or never started. Prosecutors charged him after dozens of families lost their money to abandoned pool construction contracts.
A New Jersey home improvement contractor collected large deposits from dozens of homeowners for renovations and repairs, then failed to complete the work. Authorities charged him with theft after victims lost more than $1 million combined.
Roman James Hidalgo, owner of Roman James Builders in Austin, collected millions from homeowners for custom builds and renovations that were never completed. Prosecutors charged him with theft after dozens of clients reported abandoned projects and missing funds.
Benjamin Cole, operating a Northern Virginia construction business, collected hundreds of thousands in deposits for home renovations he never completed. Multiple homeowners were left with unfinished projects and empty bank accounts before prosecutors brought him to justice.
A Florida contractor collected millions in deposits from homeowners for repairs and new construction, then failed to complete the work. Authorities charged him with grand theft after dozens of victims came forward demanding accountability.
An Ohio contractor took hundreds of thousands in deposits from homeowners, many elderly, for home improvement work he never completed. State investigators and the Attorney General pursued charges after a flood of consumer complaints exposed the scheme.
When the August 2020 derecho flattened Cedar Rapids with 140 mph winds, out-of-state storm chasers descended on Iowa. Many homeowners paid deposits for repairs that were never completed, prompting warnings from the Iowa Attorney General's office.
After Hurricane Laura devastated southwest Louisiana in 2020, out-of-state storm chasers and fly-by-night contractors collected deposits and insurance checks then disappeared. The Louisiana State Licensing Board and Attorney General fielded a surge of complaints from homeowners left with damaged homes and empty bank accounts.
A Texas restoration contractor collected insurance proceeds and homeowner payments for storm repairs that were never completed or never started. Authorities pursued charges after dozens of victims reported losses, exposing how disaster-driven demand fuels contractor fraud.
A Colorado roofing operation collected millions from homeowners after severe hail storms, then failed to complete work or never started at all. The case highlights how storm-chasing contractors exploit insurance claims and upfront deposits.
Benjamin Dewees collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits from Pennsylvania homeowners for home improvement projects he never completed. His pattern of taking money and abandoning jobs led to a state criminal conviction and restitution orders.
A Michigan contractor collected large deposits from dozens of homeowners for projects he never completed, leaving families out hundreds of thousands of dollars. State prosecutors eventually charged him with multiple felony counts of fraud and racketeering.
After California's devastating wildfires, the Contractors State License Board conducted sting operations that caught dozens of unlicensed operators targeting displaced homeowners. Many demanded illegal upfront deposits before vanishing or performing dangerous, substandard work.
For every homeowner defrauded by a contractor, there are legitimate contractors who completed work and were never paid. A documented look at how the payment crisis cuts both ways.
Following Hurricane Ian's destruction, a wave of fraudulent roofing contractors targeted Southwest Florida homeowners — taking money upfront and vanishing before a single shingle was laid.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, unlicensed contractors swept through Houston collecting deposits for repairs they never intended to complete. The pattern — and what escrow would have changed.
Use structural protection from the start. Submit your project and get matched with contractors who work within an escrow framework.