MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) – The snow is gone, and many of you are planning your home renovation projects for the season.
That’s why the state has also dedicated this week to Contractor Fraud Awareness Week.
Now that there isn’t any snow on the ground, home renovation season has begun.
Michigan State Police (MSP) Eighth District Public Information Officer Lt. Benjamin Eckola wants you to know fraudsters also use this time of year to take advantage of people.
“There are contractors that are contacting you or advertising, and they might seem too good to be true at such a good price,” Eckola said. “Saying they can get it done faster than anybody else, and they don’t follow through on the job that they are looking to have done.”
Eckola says they have seen a series of these incidents in the last few years. We’ve also shared several of those cases with you.
In 2025, 15 felony charges…
HOW TO SPOT A “RED FLAG” (THE BEHAVIORAL AUDIT)
Keep an eye out for these behavioral shifts in your staff:
Refusal to take leave: Afraid someone will find their “adjustments.”
Unexplained wealth: Buying luxury items that don’t match their known salary.
Working odd hours: Preferring to work alone late at night when no one is watching the system.
“Gatekeeper” behavior: Becoming overly defensive or angry when someone asks to see their records.