GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- Chris Bradburn was trying to get some help with the details of his basement renovation, so the Grand Rapids man went online. He found a guy on Craigslist named Tony Mason who was willing to work, or so he claimed.
Bradburn works in construction and knew some things to ask that would trip up somebody who was faking his skills. Mason passed the test.
"The guy knew what he was talking about," Bradburn said. "There weren't any red flags when we met."
They agreed on the work and price. Bradburn said he wrote Mason a check for $800 to pay for materials up front.
"He was supposed to come back in about a week, week and a half and do the install," Bradburn said, "and that's the last time I saw him."
He says there were some calls, some texts and some promises. Then he went online to check Mason out and found a 24 Hour News 8 story about him from April 2014. At that time, customers were complaining that William Anthony (Tony) Mason took their money and walked away from the work.
He served some jail time in Ottawa County. Official records show that he is still on probation.
Chris' wife, Tracy, said she talked to police about it but they told her "it was a civil matter because it was a broken agreement. We didn't have an actual contract."
The Bradburns say they confronted Mason over the phone about his previous trouble. They told Target 8 that he promised to return their money, but so far has not.
Target 8 investigators tried calling Mason and went to the address in Wyoming he gives as his home, but didn't get a response.
"It stinks that this guy's out there and could still potentially be doing this to people," Chris Bradburn said.
Tuesday, Target 8 provided you with tips on how to check out a contractor before you hire them by checking licenses with the state and the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been previous complaints.