Library & Resources

Contractor Fraud Scams and Rip-offs

The Impact of Contractor Fraud on Homeowners

Taking Action to Prevent or Report Contractor Fraud

  • WEBSITE: Georgia Watch promotes consumer-friendly public policy and greater protections for victims of fraud, malpractice and misinformation. Georgia Watch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating Georgia consumers on the health care, insurance and financial issues that impact them.

To Obtain a Georgia Criminal History Record of Another Person

  • WEBSITE: The Georgia Bureau of Investigations
    O.C.G.A. §35-3-34 (d.2) provides public access to felony conviction records without consent of the person whose record is being checked.  You can now use the Georgia Felon Search web site to verify if a person has been convicted in Georgia of a felony crime and if the conviction has been reported to GCIC. There is a fee of $15.00, payable by credit card only, for each transaction.

To Check Out a Business Before You Hire Them or File a Complaint

  • WEBSITE: The Better Business Bureau
    BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. Their vision is: An ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. Although BBB does not have legal and policing powers, they do provide information about marketplace fraud through alerts on scams to the public.
  • WEBSITE: National Association of Attorneys General
    The National Association of Attorneys General is a national organization comprised of Attorneys General from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and the territories of the United States.  To find your Attorney General’s office visit this site.
  • WEBSITE: The Federal Trade Commission
    The Federal Trade Commission is the nation’s consumer protection agency. The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection works for the Consumer to prevent fraud, deception, and unfair business practices in the marketplace.
  • WEBSITE: Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs
    The mission of the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs is to protect consumers and businesses from unlawful, deceptive and unfair practices in the marketplace by enforcement of the laws we administer and through education.
    Don’t forget to visit the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs’ educational website helps consumers in making major purchase decisions related to automobiles and housing, establishing credit, and handling personal finances. Visit www.ConsumerEd.com.

Preparing For & Recovering From a Disaster

  • WEBSITE: FEMA
    FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation they work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
  • WEBSITE: American Red Cross
    Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters.

    Get Assistance: The American Red Cross can provide two types of assistance after a disaster – hard and soft.  Hard assistance provides material items and may include feeding, shelter, clean-up kits, comfort kits and financial assistance.  Soft assistance minimizes immediate disaster-caused suffering through listening, guidance, advocacy, and counseling.

    Recover after a disaster: The American Red Cross has gathered this information to encourage you take precautions to help keep you safe and speed your recovery after a disaster. You will also find ideas on what you can do to help make yourself and your home safer from future disasters.

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