BATON ROUGE – Attorney General Jeff Landry is warning residents to beware of so-called “mold certificates” as recovery begins after August’s historic flooding.

Landry said “there is no such thing as a government required ‘mold-free’ certificate.” He is also urging residents to only hire contractors with the necessary skills, licenses and insurance to legally do mold remediation work.

General Landry also offers the following tips to protect consumers and their wallets:

• Make sure the contractor is licensed through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.
• Get at least three itemized and detailed bids.
• Take a selfie with your contractor and photograph his/her vehicle and its license plate.
• Require the contractor to show proof of insurance, such as workman’s compensation and general liability, and call that insurer to confirm coverage.
• Always get a guarantee and a contract in writing.
• Pay by check or money order and keep all receipts.

To report a scam, call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889.