Consumer Watch Uncovers Deceptive Roofing Ads

Amanda Taylor, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Brian Krafton is no stranger to News 9. We met customers he's accused of ripping off in 2010 that resulted in several embezzlement charges in Cleveland County. I found similar charges against him in Oklahoma City and across the state.

But Krafton is still at work. He's changed his company name more than once. And now a twist. I found ads for Liberty Roofing all over Craig's List. The phone numbers trace back to Krafton.

At first glance, everything looks legit, until we notice with each ad, the license number changes and none of them belongs to Liberty Roofing.

In fact, one of the numbers belongs to Basey's Roofing, a reputable company with no ties to Liberty. When Jeremy Snow found out about it, he called Krafton.

"(I) left a message and haven't gotten a response from him either," Jeremy Snow with Basey's Roofing said.

So I went to Krafton's Edmond business address listed on his ads. The doors were locked and it was empty. I tried his home and no one was there either. I called him too. It went to voice mail, but I couldn't leave a message.

But Jeremy Snow has one message for Brian Krafton. "Just do it right," Snow said. "Stop scamming people. Stop doing what he's doing."

While we can't always keep people like Krafton from working in our state, there are things we can do to protect ourselves. Before hiring a roofing company:

• Check their registration number and standing with the Construction Industries Board.

• Never pay up front.

• Get references from people you trust.

• Stay local.