County Looks To Crack Down On Scams Targeting Wildfire Victims

LOS ANGELES, CA — The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously directed its staff to develop tighter measures to protect Eaton and Palisades fire survivors from contractor scams and other fraud.

"Eighteen months after the Eaton and Palisades Fires, many Altadena and Palisades fire area residents continue the long and difficult process of rebuilding their homes and their lives," according to a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey Horvath, who represent the fire-affected areas. "While survivors have shown extraordinary resilience, the complexity of recovery has also created opportunities for bad actors to exploit vulnerable homeowners through contractor fraud, home repair scams, deceptive business practices, and other predatory conduct.

"As rebuilding activity continues, protecting consumers is essential to ensuring that residents can recover safely and confidently. Wildfire survivors should have access to clear, accurate information about selecting licensed contractors, understanding home improvement contracts, recognizing common scam tactics, and reporting suspected fraud. Although Los Angeles County has existing consumer protection and enforcement resources, greater coordination of public education and outreach can help prevent fraud before it occurs and ensure residents know where to turn for assistance."

The motion directs the county Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to work with attorneys and other county agencies to toughen existing consumer-protection measures and develop a plan in the next 30 days to address contractor fraud "and other scams targeting Eaton and Palisades Fire survivors."

It would also call on the DCBA to begin an expanded consumer-awareness campaign to provide information online about reporting suspected fraud and recognizing common scam tactics, among other resources.

Barger said that county officials have been actively urging fire survivors to know their rights and be sure contractors they hire are legitimate, but scams continue to be an issue.

"It's clear that we must do more to educate survivors on ways to protect themselves," Barger said Tuesday.

"Survivors need clear, trusted information ... including how to verify a contractor's license, understand the contracts they are signing, recognize the warning signs of a scam and report suspected fraud," Barger said.

DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal said there have been an array of complaints from fire-zone residents about contractors who aren't licensed or overstate their qualifications to complete work they are being hired to perform, among other issues.

Horvath said her staff has heard from homeowners who have lost thousands of dollars to unlicensed contractors, saying wildfire victims are being "preyed upon."

"Our wildfire survivors have already been through far too much," she said.

City News Service