Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody continues her Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals with a cautionary message about pool scams.
Highlighting recent actions taken against fraudulent pool companies, Moody’s “Scams at a Glance: Sink or Swim” resource outlines common pool contractor schemes and provides tips to avoid them.
Attorney General Ashley Moody stated, “As summer heats up, having a backyard pool can be a great way to cool down. However, Floridians must be wary of shady pool contractors. Our office has been actively investigating 15 deceptive pool companies since 2019. To prevent homeowners from facing dangerous, unfinished pool projects, I’m issuing tips to help avoid falling victim to pool contractor fraud.”
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Since 2019, Moody’s office has investigated 15 fraudulent pool companies, recovering millions in monetary relief. These deceitful businesses often demand large upfront payments and fail to complete the work, leaving homeowners with incomplete or poorly constructed pools.
Recent actions by 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 complete 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.
Read: AG Ashley Moody Warns Floridians About Vacation Rental Scams In Summer Scams Series
To file a complaint against a pool contractor, contact DBPR at MyFloridaLicense.com or by calling (850) 487-1395. Fraudulent activity should be reported local law enforcement.
Floridians can file civil complaints with Attorney General Moody’s office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.
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