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Beware: Contractor scamming Oceanside homeowners

Posted at 12:01 PM, Jun 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-07 15:01:28-04
OCEANSIDE -- Oceanside police issued a warning to homeowners Tuesday to be on the lookout for a man charging exorbitant amounts for attic renovations he often does not complete and sometimes claims would be covered by a state rebate program.
  
The suspect goes by "Jonathan" or "Yair" and has been targeting homes in Oceanside and Escondido, according to an Oceanside Police Department community alert.
  
He tells homeowners their attic renovations will include insulation replacement, duct work or mold removal and sometimes claims the work will be covered under a state rebate program, according to Oceanside police.
  
"He may actually do some work, but will often not compete the job and/or charge an exorbitant amount for the work," according to the statement.    The California Contractors State Licensing Board advised residents to check out a contractor's credentials before hiring him or her; get multiple bids; ask for identification and insurance documents; get a written estimate that includes the worker's license number and contact information; and keep down payments under $1,000 or 10 percent of the job, whichever is less.
  
Anyone with information on the suspect or who has been victimized was asked to call Oceanside police Detective Karla Williams at 760-435-4771, or to contact Escondido police at 760-839-4717.