An Altadena woman who survived the Eaton Fire said an unlicensed contractor preyed on her when she was at her most vulnerable. Pamelia Lawson’s home was one of the 1,073 properties damaged by the fire in January 2025. A person who later turned out to be a bad actor approached Lawson, offering to fix her house for a reasonable price.
Warning Signs
Lawson paid the contractor $18,000, but she could never reach him after he cashed her checks. The photos she provided showed what appears to be incomplete work by the builder who did not have a license. This is a reminder of the rules in the state: customers should pay no more than 10% of the total contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, as a down payment.
To avoid being victimized, consumers should keep records of everything while confirming builders are licensed with the Contractors State License Board. Katherine Peoples with HPP Cares, a nonprofit that offers free counseling about hiring contractors, advised consumers to ask for the contractor’s license number and driver’s license number.
Unlicensed builders may use a license under someone else’s name, which is another predatory activity. LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has vowed to prosecute unlicensed builders in fire zones. Last month, six people were charged with contracting without a license after allegedly trying to solicit business in neighborhoods devastated by the deadly January 2025 Palisades Fire.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
