The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey P. Horvath to strengthen protections for wildfire survivors facing contractor fraud and other rebuilding-related scams. The action calls for a more coordinated County response, enhanced consumer education, and expanded outreach to help residents protect themselves and their recovery dollars as rebuilding accelerates.
“As more Eaton Fire survivors move forward with rebuilding, my office is hearing increasing concerns about contractor fraud and bad actors targeting homeowners in Altadena,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “My constituents have already lost far too much–they shouldn’t have to worry about being victimized again by an unscrupulous contractor or scammer. We need our consumer protection and enforcement partners working together, while making sure survivors have clear, trusted information before they sign a contract or spend their recovery dollars.”
Supervisor Horvath said the County’s response must pair stronger enforcement with direct support for survivors who may have already been targeted. “Los Angeles County is standing with wildfire survivors and holding accountable those who seek to exploit them,” stated Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “Survivors deserve our full support as they rebuild—not scams, fraud, or predatory contractors looking to take advantage of vulnerable residents who have already endured too much. If you believe you’ve been victimized, our Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is here to help.”
The motion directs several Los Angeles County departments, in consultation with the Contractors State License Board, to develop a coordinated approach to address contractor fraud and other scams targeting wildfire survivors, including stronger collaboration among consumer protection agencies and law enforcement partners. It also calls for County resources and enforcement tools to be better aligned so emerging complaints and potentially fraudulent activity can be identified and addressed.
A major focus of the motion is preventing fraud before it occurs. Survivors will receive expanded guidance on how to verify a contractor’s license, understand the terms of a contract, recognize common warning signs of fraud, and report suspected scams.
Consumer protection and fraud prevention resources will also be integrated into the Altadena and Calabasas One-Stop Permitting Centers, reaching homeowners as they actively move through the permitting and rebuilding process. Information will additionally be centralized through the Recovery LA website, recovery.lacounty.gov.
The motion also calls for targeted outreach to populations that may be particularly vulnerable or difficult to reach, including older adults, individuals with limited English proficiency, and displaced households. Outreach efforts will include partnerships with trusted community and legal service organizations, along with expanded public awareness efforts in fire-impacted communities.
The Board of Supervisors has taken this step as construction activity steadily increases and new contractors and construction companies enter communities recovering from the wildfires. While some complaints may involve intentionally predatory actors, other contractors may take on more work than they have the capacity to complete, potentially causing additional financial and emotional harm to survivors.