Chicks in Construction

Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu discuss how homeowners can still be scammed by contractors who seem legitimate, stressing that confidence can be a red flag and research is essential. They cover a fraud case in upstate New York (2019–2023) where a couple used multiple similar business names, contracts, and fake references—one was the contractor’s wife—to take large upfront deposits, stall or abandon projects, deliver poor work, refuse refunds, and spend victims’ money on personal expenses like casino trips and luxury vehicles; losses exceeded $1.5 million across more than a dozen homeowners. The husband received a 5–15 year prison sentence and the wife got six months plus probation. They outline protections: verify licenses and qualifiers, research names via Secretary of State and court filings, avoid deposits over 20%, tie payments to progress, don’t rush decisions, and visit active job sites.00:00 Confidence Is a Red Flag00:17 Meet the Hosts00:48 Justice and Jail Jokes02:55 Hector and the Purchase Order06:16 Tech Adoption in Trades08:15 Why Trades Beat AI09:37 Research and Real Facts11:23 Scam Story Setup14:57 Fraud Case Overview19:57 Multiple Company Names Warning23:44 Fake References and Reviews29:04 Verify Work on Site31:32 Where the Money Went31:51 Victims Count the Losses32:15 Charges and Sentencing33:51 How the Scam Looked Legit36:03 Red Flags to Watch36:07 Multiple Business Names Explained39:49 Upfront Deposits and Overpaying41:58 Work Stalls and Bad Workmanship44:44 Protect Yourself With Research47:58 Verify Licenses and Qualifiers52:21 Progress Payments Not Pressure57:17 Final Takeaways and Share StoriesSubmit your homeowner horror story:www.chicksinconstruction.comFollow on Social Media:www.instagram.com/chicksinconstructionpodcastwww.facebook.com/chicksinconstructionpodcastwww.linkedin.com/company/chicksinconstructionpodcastwww.youtube.com/@ChicksInConstruction________________Love what you hear?Subscribe to Chicks in Construction and share this episode with your friends because every homeowner, builder, contractor, and designer needs to hear this one!