Documented losses across nine California counties

This entry describes how we compile documented losses across the California counties where we work, and, just as importantly, what a county-level count cannot tell you.

What counts as a documented loss

We only record an amount when it is supported by records a third party could review: signed agreements, invoices, bank or card records, lien filings, or correspondence establishing the scope and the payment. Estimated future costs, emotional harm, and time lost from work are real but are not included in the totals, because they cannot be verified the same way.

How cases enter the record

• Direct intake from homeowners who contact us.
• Referrals from subcontractors and suppliers who were not paid on a job.
• Cases shared by partner organizations, with consent.

Every entry is de-identified before it is aggregated. We do not publish names, addresses, or case details that could identify a household.

What the county view shows

Grouping by county is useful for one thing: showing local decision-makers that this is happening in their jurisdiction, not somewhere else. It puts a specific, verifiable number in front of the people who can change permitting practice, consumer guidance, and local enforcement priorities.

What the county view does not show

County totals do not measure prevalence. A higher total in one county may reflect a stronger referral network, a more active partner organization, or a single large case, rather than more fraud. Counties where we have no presence show low numbers for that reason alone. Anyone using these figures should treat them as a floor for documented harm in places we can see, never as a ranking of risk.

Why we publish the limits

Housing and consumer-protection policy is full of numbers that were repeated until they became facts. We would rather be quoted accurately with caveats attached than persuasively without them.