{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Chicks in Construction","title":"Caught in the Act: Shady Contractors and How to Spot Them","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/927d1e0d\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3594,"description":"Hosts Mikki Paradis and Jessica Abreu discuss how homeowners can still be scammed by contractors who seem legitimate, stressing that confidence can be a red flag and research is essential. They cover a fraud case in upstate New York (2019–2023) where a couple used multiple similar business names, contracts, and fake references—one was the contractor’s wife—to take large upfront deposits, stall or abandon projects, deliver poor work, refuse refunds, and spend victims’ money on personal expenses like casino trips and luxury vehicles; losses exceeded $1.5 million across more than a dozen homeowners. The husband received a 5–15 year prison sentence and the wife got six months plus probation. They outline protections: verify licenses and qualifiers, research names via Secretary of State and court filings, avoid deposits over 20%, tie payments to progress, don’t rush decisions, and visit active job sites.\n00:00 Confidence Is a Red Flag\n00:17 Meet the Hosts\n00:48 Justice and Jail Jokes\n02:55 Hector and the Purchase Order\n06:16 Tech Adoption in Trades\n08:15 Why Trades Beat AI\n09:37 Research and Real Facts\n11:23 Scam Story Setup\n14:57 Fraud Case Overview\n19:57 Multiple Company Names Warning\n23:44 Fake References and Reviews\n29:04 Verify Work on Site\n31:32 Where the Money Went\n31:51 Victims Count the Losses\n32:15 Charges and Sentencing\n33:51 How the Scam Looked Legit\n36:03 Red Flags to Watch\n36:07 Multiple Business Names Explained\n39:49 Upfront Deposits and Overpaying\n41:58 Work Stalls and Bad Workmanship\n44:44 Protect Yourself With Research\n47:58 Verify Licenses and Qualifiers\n52:21 Progress Payments Not Pressure\n57:17 Final Takeaways and Share Stories\n\nSubmit your homeowner horror story:\nwww.chicksinconstruction.com\nFollow on Social Media:\nwww.instagram.com/chicksinconstructionpodcast\nwww.facebook.com/chicksinconstructionpodcast\nwww.linkedin.com/company/chicksinconstructionpodcast\nwww.youtube.com/@ChicksInConstruction\n________________\nLove what you hear?\nSubscribe to...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/U4RQe6qavAk3WxUWLiKdTLcjOSkCRvzyPPS1Dj1fGLU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hMWVi/MzVhNTA2ZjUwMWI3/YzA2MDkxZmU3Njlh/NzkzNS5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}