A West Altadena property, 2026 (Photo – W.K.)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 1, to coordinate efforts to protect wildfire survivors from contractor fraud and other scams as rebuilding gains momentum in fire-damaged communities.
By News Desk
The motion, introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey P. Horvath, directs several county departments to develop a countywide response in consultation with the Contractors State License Board.
The plan calls for closer cooperation among consumer-protection agencies and law enforcement partners, expanded public education and outreach, and coordination of existing resources and enforcement tools to identify complaints and investigate potentially fraudulent activity.
Barger said her office has received an increasing number of complaints about contractor fraud targeting Eaton Fire survivors in Altadena.
“My constituents have already lost far too much—they shouldn’t have to worry about being victimized again by an unscrupulous contractor or scammer,” Barger said. “We need our consumer protection and enforcement partners working together while ensuring survivors have clear, trusted information before they sign a contract or spend their recovery dollars.”
Horvath said the county must assist residents who may already have been targeted while pursuing contractors and others accused of fraud.
“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,” Horvath said. “If you believe you’ve been victimized, our Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is here to help.”
As part of the initiative, the county plans to provide information on checking contractor licenses, reviewing contract terms, recognizing warning signs and reporting suspected scams.
The information will be available at the Altadena and Calabasas One-Stop Permitting Centers, where homeowners are seeking permits and navigating the rebuilding process. Resources also will be centralized through the county’s Recovery LA website at recovery.lacounty.gov.
Outreach will focus particularly on older adults, people with limited English proficiency and displaced households. The county also plans to work with community and legal-services organizations to expand fraud-prevention efforts in neighborhoods affected by the fires.
The action comes as more contractors and construction companies enter communities recovering from the wildfires. Officials said some complaints may involve deliberately predatory operators, while others may involve contractors who take on more work than they can complete.
Either situation could leave survivors facing additional financial losses and delays as they try to rebuild, county officials said.
The motion does not immediately create a new enforcement agency or program. Instead, it directs county departments to develop a coordinated approach to preventing and responding to complaints involving wildfire-rebuilding scams.
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