VIDEO: Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals—AG Moody Warns Floridians About Pool Scams and Highlights Recent Takedowns of Fraudulent Pool Companies

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General Ashley Moody is continuing the Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals with a warning about pool scams and highlighting recent actions taken against fraudulent pool companies. Attorney General Moody's Scams at a Glance: Sink or Swim resource lists common pool contractor schemes and offers tips on how to avoid them.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "As summer heats up, a backyard pool may be a great way to cool down, but Floridians need to be cautious of shady pool contractors. Our office works hard to stop these bad actors, investigating 15 deceptive pool companies since 2019. To help Floridians dodge nightmare scenarios of backyards with dangerous empty holes where the pool paradises they envisioned should be, I'm issuing tips to avoid falling victim to pool contractor fraud."

Since 2019, Attorney General Moody's office has investigated 15 shady pool companies and recovered millions in monetary relief. These fraudulent businesses ask for significant upfront payments and often never complete the work, leaving homeowners with unfinished or poorly constructed pools.

Some of the recent cases from Attorney General Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution include:

• The sentencing of a woman operating a million-dollar pool contracting scheme to 30 years in prison;
• The arrest of a shady contractor who took advantage of nearly 100 Florida homeowners-including seniors; and
• A Tampa-based pool company owner arrested for stealing more than $1.5 million from Floridians and failing to compete customers' pools.

Some of the recent cases from Attorney General Moody's Consumer Protection Division include:

• A civil action against a company that allegedly misled Florida consumers, claiming more than $1.5 million in payments;
• A permanent ban from running any pool construction company after a pool company owner ripped off at least 27 Florida consumers; and
• The shutdown of a Tampa-based pool company and banning a corrupt owner from operating a pool company in Florida.

For more case examples, visit MyFloridaLegal.com.

To help Floridians avoid falling victim to fraudulent pool contractors, Attorney General Moody released Scams at a Glance: Sink or Swim. This resource lists some of the most common pool contractor scams, including:

• Deep Discount Scam: When fraudsters offer discounts that are too good to be true;
• Contract Shakedown Scam: When a contractor demands more money than agreed upon in the contract;
• Licensing and Insurance Scam: When a contractor uses fraudulent license numbers or insurance policies; and
• Deposit Scam: When massive deposits are required upfront, but the contractor never starts the project.

Scams at a Glance: Sink or Swim also provides tips for Floridians to avoid falling victim to pool-related fraud, including:

• Verify a contractor's license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation;
• Search for complaints about a company through DBPR or the Better Business Bureau;
• Beware of contractors who demand a large, upfront payment;
• Get multiple estimates and research a company thoroughly before signing a contract or providing a deposit; and
• Ask to see a contractor's proof of insurance.

To download Scams at a Glance: Sink or Swim, click here.

To file a complaint against a pool contractor, contact DBPR at MyFloridaLicense.com or by calling (850) 487-1395. Fraudulent activity should be reported to local law enforcement.

Floridians can file a civil complaint with Attorney General Moody's office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

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