As Michigan homeowners look to improve their yards as spring and summer arrive there is an increase in "fly-by-night" landscapers. A fly-by-night landscaper is generally an unlicensed or short lived contractor who offers quick services, requests a deposit, then fails to complete the work or disappears entirely.
Most landscaping scams follow a similar trend:
The contractor offers a low or "too good to be true" estimate.
They request a large upfront deposit or full payment (often in cash or through apps like CashApp).
Work is delayed, never started, or poorly completed.
All communication ends once payment is made.
There are several red flags to be aware of to avoid getting scammed:
No license, insurance, or verifiable business address.
Request for large payment upfront.
No written contract.
No online presence or bad reviews.
Before hiring a landscape contractor do your due diligence. Verify licensing and insurance. Pay a small deposit avoiding cash and use traceable payment methods. Check for website and local address. Check online reviews.
If you have been scammed:
File a complaint with the Michigan Attorney General's Protection Division.
Contact your local law enforcement.
Document all communications and payments.
When hiring a landscaper do your research. Stay informed. Watch for red flags!
