Can a Private Investigator Help Track Down a Fraudulent Contractor or Service Provider?

When you hire a contractor, you expect progress, professionalism, and results. Whether you're renovating your home, upgrading your business facilities, or investing in essential services, the last thing you anticipate is being scammed.

Unfortunately, contractor fraud happens more often than most people realize. Dishonest contractors disappear after collecting deposits, abandon projects halfway through, or deliver substandard work that creates more problems than it solves. Many victims believe they have no recourse and simply accept the financial loss.

The reality is different: Professional private investigators possess the skills, resources, and legal knowledge to locate fraudulent contractors, gather compelling evidence, and provide the documentation necessary for pursuing justice through civil or criminal channels.

Understanding the Contractor Fraud Problem in New York

Contractor and service provider scams are increasingly prevalent throughout New York, particularly in high-demand markets like New York City and Long Island. Unscrupulous operators employ various deceptive tactics, including fabricated license credentials, temporary shell companies, and cash-only payment schemes that leave no paper trail.

Common targets include:

Homeowners Facing Emergency Situations
People dealing with urgent repairs—roofing damage, plumbing failures, electrical issues, or mold remediation—are especially vulnerable. Scammers exploit the urgency and stress of these situations.

Property Owners Seeking Affordable Solutions
Landlords looking for cost-effective renovations or maintenance services often encounter contractors offering prices that seem too good to be true—because they are.

Senior Citizens
Elderly individuals with limited technology experience or social isolation frequently become targets for door-to-door scammers and high-pressure sales tactics.

Business Operators
Companies outsourcing specialized services like IT infrastructure, digital marketing, or facility improvements can fall victim to vendors who collect payment then vanish.

Victims typically discover they're left with substantial upfront payments made, incomplete or dangerous work requiring expensive corrections, and no viable way to contact the perpetrator.

How Private Investigators Resolve Contractor Fraud Cases

At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we routinely assist fraud victims by uncovering the true identities behind suspicious businesses, locating individuals who've gone underground, and compiling evidence packages that support legal action—whether through small claims court, civil litigation, or criminal prosecution.

Our comprehensive approach includes:

Uncovering True Identities Behind Business Facades

Fraudulent contractors frequently operate under various disguises:

• Fictitious business names or dissolved business entities
• Partial names, nicknames, or complete aliases
• Unlicensed operations borrowing another contractor's legitimate credentials

Our skip tracing methodology establishes genuine identity by:

• Connecting phone numbers and email addresses to actual individuals
• Locating current residential addresses and employment information
• Cross-referencing licensing board records, court documents, and utility databases
• Identifying patterns across multiple business names and locations

Accurate identification is essential for serving legal documents, filing mechanics' liens, or initiating debt recovery proceedings.

Authenticating Business Credentials and Licensing

Many contractors falsely claim they're "fully licensed and insured" when they're actually:

• Using borrowed or stolen license numbers
• Operating with expired, suspended, or fabricated credentials
• Registering under different names to evade previous lawsuits

Our verification process examines:

• State and local contractor licensing databases
• Business entity registrations (LLCs, DBAs, corporations)
• Historical business addresses and ownership transitions
• Existing civil complaints, judgments, or regulatory violations

Sometimes our investigation reveals systematic fraud affecting multiple victims—a pattern that strengthens both criminal prosecution and civil cases.

Building Evidence for Legal Proceedings

Successful lawsuits or criminal charges require solid documentation. We compile:

• Digital evidence including text messages, emails, and online advertisements
• Financial records connecting payments to specific individuals or accounts
• Video surveillance footage when circumstances warrant
• Statements from witnesses, subcontractors, or other victims
• Documentation of previous complaints or legal actions

This comprehensive evidence package enables you to approach court proceedings confidently or submit thoroughly documented police reports.

Real-World Case Study: Tracking a Vanished Roofing Contractor

A homeowner on Long Island contacted our firm after losing $5,500 to someone posing as a licensed roofing contractor. The individual began the project, removed existing shingles, then completely disappeared—leaving the home exposed to weather damage and structural risk.

The invoice showed a business name with no matching records in New York's database. The phone number had been disconnected. Standard online searches and people-finder websites yielded nothing useful.

Our investigation team executed a comprehensive skip trace that connected the contractor's phone to a disposable email account, then identified his actual name through archived utility records. We located his current address across state lines in New Jersey, discovered three previous small claims judgments filed in different New York counties, and found recent social media marketplace posts advertising roofing services under yet another alias.

Our detailed findings enabled the client to successfully file a small claims lawsuit and submit a formal fraud complaint to the New York Attorney General's Consumer Protection Bureau.

Why Professional Investigation Makes the Difference

Many fraud victims assume that small claims court judges or police departments will automatically handle their cases—but that assumption often proves incorrect.

Law Enforcement Requirements:

Police and prosecutors typically need:

• Verified proof of fraudulent intent and pattern of behavior
• Complete identification and location of the suspect
• Financial losses meeting minimum thresholds (varies by jurisdiction)
• Multiple victims or aggravating circumstances

Civil Litigation Prerequisites:

Attorneys won't proceed with lawsuits without:

• Confirmed identity of the defendant being sued
• Valid service address for delivering legal notifications
• Documented evidence proving fraud or contract breach
• Reasonable expectation of collectible judgment

Engaging a private investigator first establishes the foundation for both criminal prosecution and civil recovery by providing the critical information both pathways require.

Starting Your Contractor Fraud Investigation

Beginning an investigation with Easton Secure Solutions LLC requires minimal information:

• Name of the individual or business entity (even if incomplete)
• Contact information used during communications (phone, email)
• Written documentation (invoices, quotes, contracts, text exchanges)
• Summary of the agreement and how it was violated

From this starting point, we can attempt to verify the subject's true identity, determine their current location, and produce detailed reports you can submit to:

• Small claims courts
• Your legal counsel
• Law enforcement agencies or state licensing authorities

Our Basic Identity Verification Investigations begin at $199 and are available throughout New York State and nationwide. We provide customized pricing based on case complexity and investigative depth required.

Who Benefits From Our Services

Easton Secure Solutions LLC has successfully assisted:

Residential Property Owners
Homeowners defrauded by unlicensed or incompetent contractors who took deposits and disappeared.

Rental Property Landlords
Property owners dealing with abandoned renovation projects creating safety hazards and liability concerns.

Business Owners
Companies scammed by phantom IT consultants, web designers, or facility maintenance providers.

Vulnerable Populations
Senior citizens targeted by high-pressure door-to-door scammers promising repairs that never materialize.

Property Management Companies
Managers facing vendor fraud, impersonation schemes, or payment fraud.

Our consistent objective remains straightforward: Identify, locate, and document the responsible party so you can pursue appropriate legal remedies.

Professional Service Throughout New York

Easton Secure Solutions LLC provides comprehensive investigation services to clients throughout New York City and Long Island who've experienced contractor fraud and service provider deception. As a New York State licensed private investigator, we employ proven techniques to locate individuals attempting to evade responsibility—helping our clients pursue restitution and accountability.

Take Action Against Contractor Fraud

Even when it appears the trail has completely gone cold, professional investigation can uncover answers. With specialized investigative tools, extensive field experience, and strict legal compliance, we reveal the facts and empower you to reclaim control of your situation.

Don't allow fraudulent contractors to escape accountability. Contact Easton Secure Solutions LLC today and discover how we can help you seek justice.

 
Contact Easton Secure Solutions, LLC

Licensed New York State Private Investigator
License #11000228434

📞 Phone: 516-962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: https://eastonsecuresolutions.com

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Professional Private Investigation Services
Serving Victims of Contractor Fraud Throughout New York State