The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced today the action taken against unlicensed contractors preying on Floridians impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In partnership with the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) as part of their 2024 Coordinated Enforcement Effort, DBPR launched a two-week operation targeting individuals attempting to exploit vulnerable homeowners. This operation, carried out with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, resulted in over 50 arrests and prevented homeowners from losing more than $250,000 in scams related to unlicensed contracting.
During the operation, unlicensed individuals solicited payment for 85 projects related to plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, roofing, and structural repairs. Of those arrested, 21 were from outside the county, and many had prior criminal records, including previous offenses for contracting without a license, theft, and fraud.
Alongside these enforcement efforts, DBPR conducted a public education campaign to inform homeowners about the dangers of unlicensed contracting and how to spot and report suspicious activity. DBPR participated in 88 outreach events, including efforts at 20 disaster recovery centers for those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.