While cease and desist orders are being sent to these businesses on a daily basis, these reactive efforts are only so effective. It is important to educate yourself on some of the more common scams so that you can be proactive. The following tips should help steer you clear of shady businesses

1. Beware of businesses advertising with uncommonly low prices through mass mail or classified listings. These companies often change their tune once they have secured your business and entered your home, where falsified mould tests are sometimes used to leverage thousand-dollar removal fees.

2. Check your chosen company out. Before scheduling your appointment, take a moment to validate them with the Better Business Bureau. You will have access to reviews and ratings, and will be able to see whether or not they have been accredited by the BBB. Be mindful of your spelling, as many illegitimate companies will closely parody the names of more reputable businesses in hopes of tricking customers into a false sense of security. You can find this Reliability Report tool here: http://www.bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews/
 

3. Get a second opinion. This is especially true if you are confronted with news of potentially dangerous mould. The cost of mold remediation treatment can be daunting, and investing in a second opinion will be only a fraction of that expense, with the potential to save you a lot of time and money.