Watch out: repair scams rising
Home‑repair scams spiked after winter storms — nearly 82,000 FTC complaints filed in 2024 and about $274 million lost, the highest on record. [](https://money.com/storm-damage-home-repair-scams/) Officials urge verifying invoices, double‑checking permits and avoiding high‑pressure tactics or unofficial payment requests. [](https://www.newsday.com/business/home-improvement-repair-scams-dsbug3l8) [](https://wgme.com/news/local/town-urges-residents-to-verify-invoices-real-bills-come-from-admins-and-are-paid-by-check)
Bluffton, S.C., [reported]blufftontoday.com scammers impersonating town staff via email and sending fake invoices that asked for payments tied to municipal agenda items. Monterey [County warned]thecalifornian.com that fraudsters are using highly realistic fake invoices and advised recipients to confirm that any county bill comes from a verified county email address. Two prosecution examples show criminal consequences: Patrick and Matthew McDonagh [were sentenced]king5.com to 18 months in prison in December 2024 for a nationwide contractor wire‑fraud scheme, and Charlotte [prosecutors charged]wcnc.com two men this year after authorities allege they overcharged elderly customers by more than $1 million. Industry and enforcement sources show the trend’s breadth: a JW Surety Bonds [survey found]jwsuretybonds.com roughly one in 10 Americans reported contractor scams, Roofing Contractor magazine was reportedmoney.com to have documented unlicensed crews swarming after winter storms, and the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel recorded about 6.5 million consumer reports in 2024. ftc.gov
