Pioneer Builders Homeowner Journal · Tri-Cities
A Contractor's Warning: Scammers Cost Americans $12.5 billion-and It's Not a Victimless Crime
I'm a contractor, and I get suspicious texts, calls, and fake job leads more often than most people realize. A person claims they just moved into a home. They need work right away. They want to move the conversation to WhatsApp. Then come the strange payment requests, fake checks, or pressure to send money through Cash App.
I'm writing this for my neighbors here in the Tri-Cities-homeowners in Kennewick, renters in Richland, landlords in Pasco, families in West Richland, and folks out toward Benton City. Whether you own, rent, run a crew, sell real estate, or just want to keep an eye out for an aging parent, the same patterns keep showing up. Recognizing them early is the whole game.
Why this isn't a victimless crime
It's tempting to think scams only cost a little money to people who "should have known better." That's not what I see on the ground. I see retirees who lose a chunk of their savings, young adults who get talked out of their first paycheck, and small trades who do real work and never get paid. In 2025, Americans reported about $12.5 billion in fraud losses to the Federal Trade Commission-the highest annual reported total on record. And those are only the reported losses; a great deal of fraud is never reported at all, out of embarrassment or because people don't know where to turn.
Behind every one of those numbers is a real household. The money is only part of it. The stress, the shame, and the erosion of trust between neighbors are costs too.
Fake contractor job leads and fake property claims
A common one aimed at trades and realtors: someone claims they just bought or moved into a local home and needs work urgently. They won't meet in person, they push to WhatsApp or text, and soon there's a story about a check for "more than the deposit" and a request to wire back the difference. That overpayment is the scam. The check bounces later, and you're out whatever you "refunded."
Property-related versions target renters too: a "landlord" who can't show the unit in person, wants a deposit before you see a lease, and has a reason they're out of town. If the money has to move before anyone can verify anything, treat that as a red flag.
Fake checks, overpayments, and payment-diversion scams
Fake checks can look convincing and may even "clear" for a day or two before the bank claws the funds back. Payment-diversion scams are sneakier: someone impersonates a contractor, supplier, or title company and emails "updated" bank details right before a payment is due. Always confirm any change in payment instructions using a phone number you already had-not one from the new email.
Red flags when you're hiring (homeowners & renters)
Watch for pressure to decide immediately, demands for full payment up front, requests to pay only by gift card, wire, Cash App, or crypto, and a refusal to provide a Washington contractor license number. Be cautious with anyone who won't meet at the property, whose story keeps changing, or who discourages you from getting a second opinion. In Washington, you can and should verify a contractor's license, bond, and insurance before any money changes hands.
Red flags when you're receiving leads (contractors & realtors)
If a "client" won't talk by normal phone or video, insists on WhatsApp only, sends a check for more than the agreed amount, or asks you to forward money to a "mover," "inspector," or third party, stop. Legitimate customers don't need you to become a payment middleman. When a lead feels engineered to rush you, it usually is.
Romance, impersonation, and AI-generated scams
Some of the most painful cases start on social media. A friendly stranger, a too-good investment tip, or a "relative" in trouble. Today these can be powered by AI-generated photos, cloned voices, and convincing profiles. A voice on the phone that sounds like a grandchild may not be one. When emotion and urgency show up together-especially with a money request-slow down and verify through a separate, known channel.
I want to be clear: the problem here is the behavior and the scheme, not any particular person, profile, nationality, or group. Judge the request, not the accent or the photo.
Protecting kids, young adults, and older relatives
Young people are frequent targets for job, gaming, and payment-app scams; older adults are often targeted for tech-support and impersonation scams. The best protection isn't lecturing-it's making it normal in your family to pause and ask each other, "Does this feel off?" Agree ahead of time that no real employer, agency, or family member will ever demand secrecy or gift-card payments. A quick phone call to a parent or adult child can stop a loss in its tracks.
What to do when something feels off
Pause before acting. Independently verify the person or company using contact details you find yourself, not the ones they gave you. Document what happened-save texts, emails, and screenshots. And do not send money or personal information while you're still unsure. It is always okay to say, "I need to check on this and I'll get back to you." A real, honest party will respect that.
Where to report it (official resources)
If you've been targeted or hit, reporting helps you and helps your neighbors:
- FTC: Report fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Washington State Attorney General: File a consumer complaint at atg.wa.gov/file-complaint or call 1-800-551-4636.
- Washington L&I: Verify a contractor's license, bond, and insurance at Washington L&I contractor verification.
Three Books That Make You Harder to Scam
Understanding the psychology behind fraud is one of the best defenses there is. These three have helped me see the tactics more clearly.
The Confidence Game - Maria Konnikova
A sharp look at why intelligent, careful people still fall for con artists-and how confidence tricks are built.
The Art of Deception - Kevin Mitnick & William L. Simon
The famed social engineer explains how people-not just computers-get manipulated, and how to recognize the pressure tactics.
Generative AI For Dummies - Pam Baker
A plain-language primer on how modern AI works-useful for understanding AI-generated photos, voices, and messages now used in scams.
These books can help readers understand how deception works, recognize pressure tactics, and slow down before reacting.
Hiring a contractor in the Tri-Cities?
When in doubt, talk to a licensed local you can actually meet.
Pioneer Builders is a licensed, bonded, and insured Washington contractor serving Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland, and the broader Tri-Cities. If you're unsure whether a quote, a lead, or a "too good to be true" offer is legitimate, reach out-we're happy to give you an honest read.
Affiliate notice: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Book links in this article are affiliate links; commissions help support the Pioneer Builders Homeowner Journal and do not increase the purchaser's price. This article is general information for Tri-Cities residents and is not legal or financial advice. Report fraud to the FTC and the Washington State Attorney General, and verify contractor licenses through Washington L&I before any money changes hands.