5. He Brings Someone Else Into the Scheme

This scam is more common with jobs that are more complex and require several days to finish. It starts harmlessly enough when the plumber you hired gets started on the agreed-upon work. However, soon enough, one or more extra people show up. There are cases where the extra worker is an apprentice or assistant doing legitimate work, which is nothing to worry about.

But, other times, when you’ve signed a contract with a shady plumber, the extra person is the guy’s relative or friend, who’s there to only do a few basic tasks before charging a hefty rate for their work. Your originally hired professional will then claim that because the extra worker is a subcontractor, they set their own fees, and there’s nothing he can do about it.

To avoid falling victim to this kind of scam, if any extra workers show up, ask why they are necessary. Also, make sure your invoices clearly include the cost of their work. If you ever have any questions about who’s doing what and why, approach them before you allow the work to continue.