‘Most wanted’ unlicensed contractor accused of scamming 18 customers
A “most wanted” unlicensed Nevada contractor faces 24 felony charges after his arrest in an undercover operation.
Brett Benson was arrested late last month by the Metropolitan Police Department with the help of the Nevada State Contractors Board.
He is known for operating in the state under the business name Security Screen Masters and aliases Brett Jordan, Brett Jordon and Brett Zimmer, according to the NSCB, which had listed him on its “Most Wanted List” of unlicensed contractors.
According to police records, he is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on allegations of 24 felony counts, including theft and nonsufficient funds, along with a misdemeanor charge.
“The Nevada State Contractors Board appreciates the assistance of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in its recent partnership to identify and subsequently apprehend one of our most egregious unlicensed contractors,” said Margi Grein, the board’s executive officer.
Benson held a Nevada contractor’s license for SSM of Nevada, doing business as Security Screen Masters, until several complaints to the board led to its revocation in 2020, according to a NSCB news release.
Benson was found by NSCB investigators to have entered into 18 written contracts receiving more than $151,000 in down payments before abandoning projects with no work performed.
The board said it always recommends consumers verify a contractor holds an active license with the NSCB before entering any contract to have work performed, regardless of the size or scope of the project. Additional best practices include obtaining three bids, insisting on a detailed written contract, and never paying more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the aggregate contract price as a down payment.
Consumers who feel they have been harmed by a licensed or unlicensed contractor should file a complaint with the board to have their concerns investigated. Complaint forms can be accessed on the board’s website, by calling its office, or using its mobile application, NSCB Mobile.
Contact Marvn Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Marv_in_Vegas on X, formerly Twitter.
