Hollywood Man Arrested for Grand Theft and Fraud in North Miami Beach Home Repair Scam

Edgar Chang, a 50-year-old man from Hollywood, Florida, has been arrested by the North Miami Beach Police Department on charges of grand theft, credit card fraud, uttering a forged instrument, fraudulently receiving money as a contractor, and falsely advertising as a licensed contractor. Chang allegedly posed as a contractor and scammed a North Miami Beach resident out of $6,000 for home repair work that he never completed.

According to the police, Chang disappeared with the $6,000 upfront payment he received from the victim who had hired him to replace their air conditioner. Chang also charged $1,016 on the victim's credit card for UberEats orders without their knowledge or consent. The victim was unable to reach Chang for two months after making the initial payment.

Investigators discovered that Chang does not possess a valid contractor's license, which is required by state law to perform such work. The invoice Chang showed the customer for $5,462 from South Florida Appliance was also confirmed to be counterfeit. Police were able to identify Chang through a photo lineup, leading to his arrest on Friday. He was released on a $10,500 bond on Saturday.

Why this matters: Home repair scams targeting unsuspecting homeowners are a persistent problem in many communities. This case highlights the importance of verifying a contractor's credentials and being cautious when making large upfront payments for repair work.

The North Miami Beach Police Department is urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Chang's alleged scam to come forward. "The North Miami Beach police are asking anyone who believes they have been a victim of Chang to call Detective Rivera at 305-949-5500," stated the department in a press release. The investigation into Chang's activities is ongoing as detectives work to identify any additional victims.

Key Takeaways

• Edgar Chang, 50, arrested for home repair scam in Florida
• Scammed $6,000 from victim, charged $1,016 on credit card
• Posed as contractor without valid license, used counterfeit invoice
• Police urge other potential victims to come forward
• Case highlights importance of verifying contractor credentials