PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy announced today the results of a two-day sting operation targeting unlicensed contractors preying on residents impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“Operation Flood of Fraud 2” resulted in the arrest of over 40 individuals on Clearwater Beach, with over 50 charges filed. The operation was a joint effort between the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department.
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“As we announced two weeks ago in Madeira Beach, our current focus is protecting our residents and businesses who are desperate to rebuild and get on with their lives from being exploited and ripped off by people offering to do work on their property,” Sheriff Gualtieri stated. “But in some cases, have absolutely no intention of doing the work, in other cases are unqualified to do the work, and in all cases are unlicensed to do the work. These people are simply scammers and thieves and really no different than people who are running around in neighborhoods at 3:00 in the morning breaking into homes.”
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Chief Gandy stated, “We haven’t seen this kind of storm damage in Clearwater previously, and in some cases it was catastrophic. Houses were completely destroyed and infiltrated with water. We’re just here to make sure our citizens don’t take another hit from an unlicensed contractor.”
Protecting Yourself from Unlicensed Contractors:
- Report suspicious activity: Call the Pinellas County Tipline at (727) 582-6767.
- Obtain permits: Most building repairs require permits, even after a storm.
- Beware of “owner/builder” permits: Reputable contractors will obtain their own permits.
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