CHARLOTTE – Contractors are scamming people out of thousands of dollars across the state.

They often use the same tactic of taking money and never completing the job. It's one of the most complained about industries with consumer protection agencies.

Cheryl Roof knows firsthand. She hired a contractor to construct a fence in her backyard. But he never showed up.

"We gave him a deposit of $1,200 and that was the last we heard from him," Roof said.

He was a career criminal – and Roof wasn't the only victim. She found the company Outdoor at its Best online and even checked it out with the Better Business Bureau. She was convinced it was legitimate.

"He was very charming, had the right things to say," Roof said. "He seems like an honest guy, but he's not."

These companies often do business under multiple names with dozens of phone numbers, which is why they can be hard to track.

"Unfortunately, we have had dozens of consumers taken by this scam," Tom Bartholomy, with the BBB, said.

One problem is that the state makes it very easy to become a contractor. In North Carolina, a license is only required for jobs exceeding $30,000.

"You don't have to have a license, you don't have to pass any tests," Bartholomy said. "You don't have to have anything except for a business card, hammer and a paint brush."

But there is help for victims.

"A homeowner's recovery fund as well, so if you use a licensed contractor and lose money in the transaction you could potentially get your money back," Angie Hicks, with Angie's List, said. "Keep in mind that's usually a last resort."

Luckily, Roof was able to get her money back.

"There was a very kind officer in Cornelius who told them, if he didn't return my money, that they were going to issue a federal warrant," Roof said.