Attorney General Mayes Reminds Arizonans to Protect Themselves from Home Construction Scams

PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes is warning Arizonans to protect themselves from home contracting and home construction scams. Her office recently prosecuted a fraudulent contractor who defrauded victims across Tucson out of $75,000 in unfinished home improvement projects.  

“Home improvement projects can be expensive, and with families struggling with just basic costs of living, I can understand why Arizonans may be tempted by a cheaper offer when faced with home construction needs,” said Attorney General Mayes. “But if you are diligent on the front end, you can save yourself a world of hurt on the backend. Do yourself a favor and go with one of Arizona’s over 60,000 licensed contractors when picking home improvement vendors.” 

“Collaborating with prosecuting authorities such as the Arizona Attorney General allows the Arizona Registrar of Contractors to ensure that fraudsters and thieves in the construction industry face real consequences, reinforcing the agency’s role as a strong consumer protector,” said Tom Cole, Director, Arizona Registrar of Contractors. “These partnerships not only deter future misconduct but also promote a fair, trustworthy marketplace for legitimate contractors and Arizona homeowners alike.” 

Attorney General Mayes suggests looking out for the signs of common contracting scams:  

• Scam contractors may knock on your door looking for business because they are “in the area.” 
• Construction scammers may say they have materials left over from a previous job. 
• Scam contractors will ask you pay up front. Avoid paying for home repairs in advance. 
• Scam construction artists might pressure you to make a decision about payment quickly and discourage you from getting multiple quotes.  
• They might try to get you to pay in only cash, gift cards, Zelle or other direct payment methods. You should always use a credit card, if you can, because then you can dispute any fraudulent transaction. 

Attorney General Mayes offers the following tips to protect yourself from home construction scams:  

• Confirm your contractor is licensed  with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Anyone can pretend to be a contractor—double check, here.  

• Get contractor recommendations from people you know and trust. 

• Check to see if there are complaints against a contractor with the Home Builders Association and Better Business Bureau. Also search online for the company’s name with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” 

• Get multiple estimates. A written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price. A price that seems too good to be true, probably is.  
• Sign a contract and read it carefully. Arizona statutory law, enforced by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, requires specific information in every residential construction contract with a property owner where the amount of the contract exceeds $1,000.

When hiring a contractor, whether for a remodeling project or home repairs, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors reminds homeowners to not only ask contractors of their license status, but to also check the license by using the Agency’s website, roc.az.gov, or by giving the Agency a call at 1-877-692-9762 (1-877-MY-AZROC).  

If you have been the victim of fraud by an unlicensed or licensed contractor, you should contact Arizona's Registrar of Contractors to file a complaint. The Attorney General’s Office works with the Registrar of Contractors once complaints have been filed.  
 
Report your scam to the FTC. Scams can also be reported to the Better Business Bureaus' Scam Tracker.