{"id":238,"date":"2010-11-16T20:49:32","date_gmt":"2010-11-16T20:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/?p=238"},"modified":"2025-10-17T15:36:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T22:36:20","slug":"cslb-reports-more-than-one-dozen-phony-contractors-caught-in-san-rafael-sting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/cslb-reports-more-than-one-dozen-phony-contractors-caught-in-san-rafael-sting\/","title":{"rendered":"CSLB Reports: More Than One Dozen Phony Contractors Caught in San Rafael Sting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Undercover operation highlights importance of checking the license first
\nSACRAMENTO \u2013 Thirteen people will be in Marin County Court next month for arraignment on charges related to contracting without a license. These unlicensed operators were caught this week in a two-day undercover sting conducted by the Contractors State License Board\u2019s<\/a> (CSLB) Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT), along with investigators from the Marin County District Attorney\u2019s Office.
\n On November 9-10, 2010, SWIFT investigators posed as homeowners seeking bids for fencing, landscaping, concrete, painting, sheet metal, and drywall work at a home in San Rafael. Suspects who bid more than $500 for labor and materials received a Notice to Appear (NTA) in court. California law requires all home improvement jobs valued at more than $500 to be undertaken by a licensed contractor<\/a>. Contractors also must place their state contractor license number in all advertisements<\/a>. Unlicensed individuals may advertise and accept jobs valued at less than $500, but their ads must state that they are not a licensed contractor.
\n Fraudulent use of an incorrect license number (Business & Professions Code Section 7027.3) is punishable by fines of up to $10,000 and\/or time in state prison or up to one year in county jail. Misdemeanor contracting without a license (B&P \u00a77028) is punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and\/or up to six months in county jail.
\n \u201cThis sting operation underscores the importance of consumers asking to see a contractor\u2019s pocket license card and photo identification to make sure the license is issued to that individual,\u201d said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. \u201cConsumers can check the license number or contractor or business name on the CSLB website or toll-free phone line to verify the status of the license and to assure the licensee has workers\u2019 compensation insurance.
\n State law requires that licensees have workers\u2019 compensation coverage to protect property owners from liability, unless they certify they have no employees and receive an exemption. The law requires roofing contractors to carry a workers\u2019 compensation policy for themselves even if they do not have employees.
\n Suspects who received NTAs will be arraigned at Marin County Superior Court at 3501 Civic Center Drive on December 3, 2010.<\/p>\n

CSLB urges consumers to remember the following tips when hiring a contractor:
\n\u2022\tVerify the contractor’s license by checking online at www.cslb.ca.gov, or via CSLB\u2019s automated phone system at 1-800-321-CSLB (2752).
\n\u2022\tAsk to see the person\u2019s identification to make sure you are dealing with the correct individual.
\n\u2022\tDon’t pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less. There is an exception to this for about two dozen contractors who purchase special bonds that are noted on CSLB\u2019s website.
\n\u2022\tDon’t pay in cash, and don’t let the payments get ahead of the work.
\n\u2022\tCheck references, and get at least three bids and a written contract before your project begins.
\n\u2022\tMake sure your contractor obtains the necessary building permits for any project. If you are unsure of these requirements, contact your local building department.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CSLB reports on recent sting two-day undercover sting conducted by the CSLB Statewide Invetigative Fraud Team (Swift) along with investigators from the Marin County District Attorney’s office. Individuals were cited for bidding jobs without a license, advertising without a license and fraudulent use of an incorrect license number. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[221],"tags":[7,10,17,29,47],"class_list":["post-238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-construction","tag-california-contractors-license-exam","tag-construction","tag-contractors-state-licensing-board","tag-general-building-contractor","tag-swift"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4408,"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238\/revisions\/4408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/contractorslicensingschools.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}