Multiple residents of Marshall County, Alabama, say they were defrauded by a Guntersville man who took their money without completing promised work. Carl Weimer, an attorney from Huntsville, hired the contractor to refurbish his company vehicle at Rocket City Tire, a business that appeared legitimate with a four-bay shop and employees.

Weimer initially agreed to a $22,000 project that ballooned to $50,000 over four years instead of the promised 90 days. The contractor claimed to offer free labor to Weimer as a veteran, but allegedly damaged the vehicle extensively when returning it. Chuck and Mato Pugh lost approximately $50,000 of their insurance money after hiring the same man to rebuild their fire-damaged home.

Trusting the contractor as a fellow volunteer firefighter, the Pughs gave him a large portion of their insurance payout. The contractor allegedly made matters worse by damaging their septic system and pipes while removing the foundation. The Better Business Bureau recommends verifying contractors through their website before hiring, as these victims learned the hard way that not everyone claiming friendship has your best interests at heart.