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Utah licensing director outlines 'Scamalot' consumer safeguards for home contractors
Summary
Mark Saniguel, director of the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, described a consumer-education effort called "Scamalot," a seven-step homeowner guide and a targeted senior outreach character named "Queen Trustworth," and pointed listeners to resources and complaint channels at scams.utah.gov and dopl.utah.gov.
Mark Saniguel, director of the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, said the agency has launched a consumer-education campaign called "Scamalot" to help Utah homeowners — particularly seniors — avoid contractor scams when hiring for home projects.
Scamalot groups a set of consumer-protection strategies the division is promoting ahead of the spring home‑improvement season, Saniguel said. The division also introduced a character, "Queen Trustworth," focused on outreach to seniors, who Saniguel described as a frequent target for home‑project fraud.
"The Department of Commerce is, is a department of business regulation in the state," Saniguel said, explaining the agency’s role. He said the Division of Professional Licensing issues contractor licenses and offers guidance for hiring and supervising work.
Saniguel summarized a seven-step consumer guide for home construction projects the division has published: prepare plans; get multiple bids; verify the contractor’s license; get promises in writing; negotiate a reasonable payment plan and be careful with upfront payments; monitor construction progress before releasing additional funds; and secure lien releases from subcontractors and suppliers before final payment. "We recommend that they verify the contractor's license, which is what we issue," he said.
He described common fraud patterns to watch for: contractors who demand full payment up front and then do not return, or who perform minimal work of poor quality and then leave. Saniguel said the division will both educate consumers and investigate reported cases.
For more information or to file a complaint, Saniguel directed listeners to scams.utah.gov and the Division of Professional Licensing website, dopl.utah.gov. He said the division will assist where possible after a complaint is filed.
The conversation took place in an interview segment during which the host introduced Saniguel and asked questions about how homeowners can protect themselves. No formal actions, votes, or legal changes were announced during the segment.
