Sting nabs 14 in unlicensed contractor investigation

In the span of two days, an undercover sting caught 14 unlicensed contractors illegally bidding on remodeling work at a Costa Mesa home, according to an announcement Wednesday from California’s Contractors State License Board.

The agency’s fraud investigation squad teamed with the city of Costa Mesa and local law enforcement last week to pose as homeowners who lived near South Coast Plaza.

The fake residents called suspected unlicensed contractors and asked them to bid on work such as installing flooring, laying tiles or pouring a new concrete driveway and walkway, license board officials said.

Anyone hired for a home-improvement project that costs $500 or more must have a state-issued license, according to the announcement.

Officials said the bids on the Costa Mesa home ranged from $1,650 to $13,000, and 14 of the bids allegedly came from builders without licenses.

They will face misdemeanor charges for their bids, according to the announcement.

Additionally, 12 of those 14 contractors allegedly produced advertisements for their services without disclosing they were unlicensed, another misdemeanor crime.

Two of the accused bidders also could face additional charges for using another contractor’s license number, according to the board.

Costa Mesa code enforcement also cited 13 of the 14 suspects for allegedly operating without a city business license.

“The timing of the sting could not be better,” Costa Mesa Building Official Khanh Nguyen said in a prepared statement. “We’ve had an increase in calls from residents regarding shoddy workmanship or unfinished work by unlicensed contractors.”

The suspected illegal bidders came from as far as Los Angeles and Riverside counties, but most of them were from Orange County cities including Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana.

Consumers can check if a contractor is licensed by visiting https://www.cslb.ca.gov or calling (800) 321-2752.