Politics & Government
Contractor Scam Targets Palos Verdes Residents
The city of Rancho Palos Verdes is alerting people about a recent scam targeting residents.
![](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/753660/20220329/065108/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1095671705___29185046808.jpg)
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — The city of Rancho Palos Verdes Tuesday alerted people about a recent scam targeting residents.
"The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has been made aware of homeowners falling victim to contractor 'scams' in which they were fraudulently billed fees for non-existent or fake City building permits," according to a statement from the city.
City officials released a list of tips to help protect people against scams and prevent them.
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"Many homeowners don’t know what kind of work requires a permit, or what a permit looks like," city officials said.
Below are steps from the city that you can take to verify the legitimacy of your contractor and permits.
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How can I verify that my contractor is state-licensed?
You can look up your contractor’s license with the California Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-2752. Then, verify that your contractor has a photo ID that matches the name on their license.
How can I verify that my contractor has a business license with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes?
You can find a list of active business licenses on the City website at the following link: https://www.rpvca.gov/677/Business-License-List
How do I know if my project needs a permit?
You can determine what kind of work requires a permit from the City at the following link: https://www.rpvca.gov/1452/Do-I-Need-a-Permit
How can I tell if my permit is valid?
Valid permits will be listed in the City’s permit database. You can conduct a permit search on the City website at the following link: https://etrakit.rpvca.gov/eTRAKiT/Search/permit.aspx
Additionally, an authentic permit will have a valid permit ID or record number. Fake and real examples are shown below.
![](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/753660/20220329/064756/styles/raw/public/processed_images/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-29%20at%203.47.29%20PM.png)
What do I do if I’m not sure?
If you are unsure about the validity of your building permit, or if you have any questions, please contact the City’s Building and Safety Division at 310-544-5280.
For additional contractor scam tips, download a Tip Sheet (PDF) from the City website.
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