Tradesman: Genuine or Fake

Sadly a growing issue in Australia is the emergance of fake / bogus tradies.

Gauging by the number of posts on the issue, we should be calling them TRADIES (not tradesman) so as not to offend fake female tradies.

Stories and warnings after 'fake tradies' scammed $660k in one year.. theaustralian.com.au

The issue is world-wide! People (mostly male) posing as tradesmen available to fix, repair or maintain jobs around the house. They look the part, talk the talk and are very convincing.

Fake Tradie Hotline: 1300 133 408

Fake tradies (con men) are dodgy tradesmen who offer to do maintenance work on your home or office then disappear with your money, leaving unfinished or substandard work, if they start work at all.

They offer to do jobs such as driveway resurfacing, painting, roof repairs and carpet cleaning at cheap rates.

Fake tradies can be sophisticated in how they attract business.

flyers that have industry standard logos

Australian Business Numbers (ABN) and Australian Company Numbers (ACN)

websites that look genuine

signage on light poles or traffic lights

door-knocking with 'today only' specials.

Fake tradies may approach people while they are working in the garden. They look for houses that have handrails and ramps, often targeting older and vulnerable people. They ask for cash* before starting the work and will offer to drive you to an ATM.

* A sure sign the tradie is fake! It is rare that a genuine tradie will ask for money in advance and never cash. The moment they ask for cash, excuse yourself (politely) and call the Fake Tradie Hotline: 1300 133 408 and ask for advice. It is a free service available to all Australians.

Fake tradies move quickly and usually only give a first name and mobile number - so contacting them afterwards is difficult.

Fake tradies appear more frequently during warmer weather and after natural disasters such as floods, fires and storms, when vulnerable people are cleaning up or repairing their properties.

What to look out for

Be suspicious of

flyers that look legitimate but offer services at reduced prices

people who knock on your door, or approach you while you are in the garden and offer to:

paint the house

work on your garden or cut trees

resurface driveways

fix your roof

anyone who

offers cheap deals using words like 'for today only'

asks for cash up front

offers to drive you to the bank to get money to pay for the job

pressures you to accept their offer

says they can do the job now as another nearby has just cancelled.

Tips to protect yourself

You can ask a suspected fake tradie to leave. If they refuse, they are breaking the law and you can call the police (000).

If you want work done on your house

shop around for a quote that is right for you

use established tradespeople who provide written quotes

ask for contact details of previous clients, so you can check references

do not sign any agreement until you are ready

ask for the tradesman's full name and registration or licence details (if applicable) so you can check these with their industry authority - especially if you have received a pamphlet advertising their services in your mailbox

ask for the business's number, so you can call to confirm whether the tradesman works for them.

Particularly after disasters, be wary of anyone offering you a 'today only' deal to carry out repairs for cash. For more information, view our Clean up, repairs and re-building page.

If you know of fake tradies in your area

record as much information as you can, such as their name and vehicle registration

keep flyers and paperwork such as receipts

report them to the national travelling con men hotline on 1300 133 408

report them to your local police.

Fake Tradie Hotline: 1300 133 408