Riverside County DA and CSLB warn residents about contractor scams and offer reporting tools

Deputy District Attorney Evan Goldsmith and a supervising investigator from the Contractors State License Board briefed the council on contractor fraud patterns and prevention tips.

Goldsmith said the most common scams involve unlicensed contractors who present false credentials and may demand illegal or excessive upfront payments. "By far, the most common scam that we've seen is just unlicensed contractors," he said, advising homeowners always to ask for and verify a license number on the CSLB website.

CSLB investigator Amanda Martinez described additional red flags: home-improvement salespeople who are not registered on a company license, solar lead generators that canvass door-to-door and then resell leads, loan-stacking where multiple small loans are obtained and paid to contractors rather than used for work, and kickbacks where contractors promise to make loan payments for the homeowner (an illegal practice). Martinez said CSLB can issue civil citations and that unlicensed activity is often investigated via sweeps by a regional enforcement unit.

Both presenters urged residents to verify license numbers online, avoid down payments above the statutory limit (no more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is lower), and report suspected fraud to CSLB. Staff distributed pamphlets and contact information for local CSLB investigative offices.