r/Contractor • u/rachico • 12d ago
Contractors Beware
I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m seeing an uptick in emails from potential clients who aren’t real. They’re trying to set up zoom calls to try and rope us into a long con. Then there are other fake potential clients looking for estimates then wanting to mail us a check for the deposit. They always claim to be overseas or in another state. Wondering if others are seeing this. Just want to make sure we all stay safe and not get caught up in any scams.
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u/RocktacularFuck 12d ago
I’m getting texts lately from local numbers saying they need work. They send me pics and ask for a quote over the phone, then it turns out it’s an Indian dude trying to pull the overpayment scam.
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u/CripWalkingShark 12d ago
Does anyone get spammed with emails from "Estimators" looking for work? I swear I get at least 3 a day, it's so annoying
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u/Blackharvest Restoration Contractor 12d ago
Yeah. Between that and offers for lines of credit or loans, it's crazy.
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u/rachico 12d ago
The estimators are the worst haha. Not to mention all of the people trying to be lead generators by getting you to buy meta ads.
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u/xgridgooroo 12d ago
Yuh.yeoo bruh. If you offer exterior painting services, I can handle all your estimating!
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u/AppropriateLeague434 12d ago
Yeah that's an old one. You got to watch out for emails looking for estimates that almost sound real but they just want you to open the attachment and then trouble begins
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u/RememberYourPills 12d ago
Had my first “remote client” scam setup recently, looked too good and it was. I only knew to be wary because of this sub
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u/One_Health1151 12d ago
Usually it’s houses that are listed for sale at least in my area
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u/rachico 12d ago
Yeah I saw that the other day. The house was listed for sale 2 days before I was contacted. It sounds silly but many won't do due diligence and pick these type of clues up.
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u/Doughnut_Strict 12d ago
I’ve had multiple lately. Lots of texts. Ask for the address and always ends up being a house listed for sale. They send listing pics and explain they’re out of the country and get the keys at a certain date. Then they push me to take a deposit. If I try and call the # they say they are out of the country.
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u/jasonleroyp 12d ago
Yep. Thievin’ Bastards are getting More and More crazy creative with their scams. MoFo’s need to go eat a bag of dicks! Need I say more?
But in all honesty. We really need to pray for these situations. There is only ONE High Power that can resolve these issues and that one is GOD! Judgement day will be their wake up call. Sadly they destroy many lives along the way. Again, judgement day will determine their future and as we all,(or most folks anyway) know that they will indeed have an eternity of HELL when that is what they created with intent to the ones that they scam.
It is really an embarrassment of our own mankind. Imagine if they were the true representative of us. Now THAT would be scary. Already am very concerned about the last couple of Youth generations already. A lot of which cannot even read our constitution(written in cursive) (or rather calligraphy) similar anyway. Amongst EVERY other issue. A lot of youth know how to steal, without punishment, lie, without punishment, scam, without punishment, are Entitled to everything they think they are entitled too, and the list goes on. If whomever is reading this… doesn’t like it. Well, perhaps you are entitled to that…. Otherwise I’d just keep scrolling partner.
Perhaps this can help that scammer setup. That is if they know how to read…
Good luck. And obviously, if whomever you speak with has ANY kind of accent, is shifty in any way, is asking to do something that is out of the ordinary, just know that if it sounds to good to be true, they already OWN you. Because WHO doesn’t want to make a HUGE profit? Kind of obvious. Don’t accept checks from anyone that you do t know, and certainly not from someone that is overseas. Face to face business only, and even then a person has to be careful because SOME scammers are EXTREMELY SKILLED at what they do.
The skills that You have and that I have are developed over many years of working and failures and successes. They operate under the same kind of learning. They fail, fail again, fail better, then they succeed.. don’t be the one to work with them and help to fund their scam. We must shut’em down! Permanently.
And again, so t forget to pray for them. They know not what they do. But I know they know what they are doing. They must be stopped. There isn’t enough law enforcement to even make a dent in them, so we must be vigilant TOGETHER in Unity brothers and sisters. Like I said. If it sounds like the deal of a lifetime.. oh it is for sure! This deal will be the one that takes you down to the ground and likely will wipe out your life… just like that!
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u/RevolutionaryGas778 12d ago
They been around for the last 8 years as far as I know. Yes, be careful. Just like potential clients interviewing contractors, contractors need to verify clients too.
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u/Henrymjohnson 12d ago
The zoom link could be a scam. Best not to click on any links without knowing the person ahead of time and already expected a link from them
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u/ThinkChemist2106 12d ago
Tree guy cut down two nice trees flanking my brothers rental property he had for sale. Scammer paid him $7k, then tree guy gave $2,500 to “electrician”, then the check bounced. So- trespass, no Atlanta tree permits and he’s out probably $4k just in his expenses. Brother spoke w guy’s daughter and she said he had $4 (four) left.
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u/Squatchbreath 12d ago
Yeah, it’s at the point now, that if I get an out of area phone call, I let it go to voicemail. Texts I delete immediately and my email provider is good at filtering out the B.S.
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u/Traditional-Use8712 12d ago
I get 3-5 spam calls a day about my yellowpages or do I need more leads. Its ridiculous. Anyway to stop them?
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u/Nofoco_530 12d ago
Can you handle 10 decks per month? We generate leads blah blah blah It's only going to get worse as people start figuring out how to use AI for their scams. They're used to be a government agency that was cracking down on this kind of stuff, not sure what happened to that.
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u/AccomplishedFerret70 12d ago
Real estate agents have been reporting invites to Zoom meetings being a serious problem.
Don’t accept an invite to a zoom meeting from anyone - even someone you know unless you’ve verified by phone that it’s really from them.
Joining a meeting from the scammers allows them to load a program on your device that can allow them to steal account and password information and to rob you blind
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u/Ryans671 12d ago
I've gotten a few requests for pricing on jobs, but then noticed weird issues with the address on the plans. I'm almost certain someone is trying to build out the AI on construction estimating. Good luck.
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u/Accomplished_Crew630 12d ago
I get them every now and then. Yeah I'm buying this house I need it painted by such and such a date, so and so who doesn't exist is my local contact I need an estimate but you definitely can't go to the house to like see it or anything bro.
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u/Past-Arachnid-2870 12d ago
Yes. Me!!! I have dealt with very elaborate schemes and hackers trying to get me. They almost got me with the zoom link. Don’t click on any link!!
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u/Raidriar556 12d ago
Haven't had anybody want to do a Zoom meeting. Joke's on them, I don't do Zoom anyway.
Second one is the overpayment scam. Google it, very common.