DELEG Warns Beware of Scam Regarding Continuing Competency Requirements; Scam Targets Licensed Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors
January 10, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) Acting Director Andrew S. Levin warns Michigan licensed residential builders, and maintenance and alteration contractors to be aware of a possible scam that involves a mailing they may have received which looks deceptively like a mailing from DELEG.
The mailing appears to be a form similar to the department’s applications, titled “BUILDER CONTINUING COMPETENCY.” The mailing contains inaccurate information and makes it look like the department is offering or endorsing the specific continuing competency classes listed, which it is not.
The fraudulent letters can look authentic. They may be addressed to the licensee; cite a Michigan statute or a federal statute; and may appear to be issued by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Commercial Services, Licensing Division. If such notices are received, they are to be disregarded because they are neither issued by DELEG nor any governmental agency.
Any licensed builder or maintenance and alteration contractor who receives such a notice is advised to do the following:
- Keep the notice, mailing envelope, and return envelope.
- Contact the U.S. Postal Inspections Service to report mail fraud at: 877-876-2455 or http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
- Contact the Michigan Office of the Attorney General at: http://www.michigan.gov/agor P.O. Box 30212, Lansing MI 48909.
Legitimate notices and mailings to Michigan licensees are issued from DELEG’s Licensing Division and are mailed to the address on record.
Customers with questions about their license or continuing competency requirements are encouraged to use the department’s web site at www.michigan.gov/builders or call the Licensing Division at (517) 373-8376.
For more information about DELEG, please visit www.michigan.gov/deleg. Follow DELEG at http://twitter.com/MIDELEG, visit the “DELEG” page on Facebook and Become a Fan or visit the Michigan Government channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/michigangovernment
Contact:
Mario L. Morrow 517-373-9280
