8 Red Flags That Mean a Contractor Is Scamming You

Contractor scams follow recognizable patterns. Here's what to watch for.

1. Unsolicited door-to-door offers, especially after a storm — a common tactic in the Capital Region after major weather events
2. Demands for full payment upfront, before any work has started
3. No written contract, or a vague one missing scope and timeline details
4. Pressure to decide immediately, often paired with a "today-only" discount
5. No permanent local business address or one that doesn't check out
6. Reluctance to provide references or licensing info when asked directly
7. Cash-only payment requests, avoiding any paper trail
8. A bid dramatically lower than every other quote you've received, often a sign of corners being cut or a bait-and-switch coming later
   

How to protect yourselfVerify licensing directly with New York State, always get a written contract, never pay the full amount upfront, and take time to check references — a legitimate contractor won't push back on any of this.

NEHI pre-screens every contractor in our network on exactly these criteria before a homeowner is ever introduced, removing the guesswork and the risk.