ARE THEY LEGIT (ATL)
A preventative consumer protection platform designed specifically for the building industry
Contractor fraud is rising across the UK, with victims losing £14.3b over the last 5 years (Federation of Master Builders, 2025), with no reliable way to differentiate honest tradespeople from prolific fraudsters.Only 3% of fraud reports to Action Fraud are investigated, and less than 1% lead to prosecution*.Are They Legit (ATL) is building the missing layer: an industry-specific reporting and intelligence platform that helps lift the veil of anonymity on prolific rogue behaviour, protecting the public, reducing the burden on public services, and supporting legitimate tradespeople.
The problem: “Funnel of Failed Accountability”
Rogue builder cases don’t fail because victims don’t act, they fail because the accountability pathway narrows at every step. Problems are routinely treated as a “civil dispute”, even where there is clear deception, abandonment or escalating payment demands. That classification blocks meaningful protection: APP fraud reimbursement rarely applies to building work disputes, so most victims are not refunded and are left funding repairs and recovery costs themselves.From there, the “solution” becomes civil court, but it isn’t viable for many. Small claims is slow and limited, higher-value litigation is too expensive and risky for households already financially damaged, and even when victims win a CCJ, many are never repaid and enforcement becomes another burden.The result is a broken loop: victims get little support or justice, while rogues face minimal consequence and continue operating, creating a cycle of ongoing harm and collapsing trust in the wider building industry.
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Why ATL? (What we’re building)
ATL is a preventative consumer protection platform with a simple purpose:To highlight repeat serious rogue behaviour once it meets an evidence-based threshold, and to do it in a way that protects legitimate trades and fair competiton.ATL will help people and institutions:
Report building-work harm through a structured reporting flow designed specifically for domestic renovation projects
Verify patterns through evidence-led thresholds (reducing false positives and protecting honest operators)
Surface repeat rogues earlier so limited resources can focus on the most prolific offenders first
Prevent repeat victimisation through awareness, alerts, and intelligence (not just reactive “after the damage” dispute handling)
What ATL is not
Another “find a tradesperson” directory (e.g., Checkatrade/MyBuilder style)
A public “blacklist” or complaint wall
A replacement for mediation/arbitration for minor contractual disagreements or snagging disputes
A tool to punish honest mistakes, low skill, or normal misunderstandings
What ATL is
An evidence-based public safety system for highlighting repeat rogue behaviour that meets a defined threshold for serious misconduct
A self-regulating reporting system designed to require minimal input and cost
A platform that targets the most prolific rogues first as they rise to the top through verified victim testimonials and government backed data sources
A preventative consumer protection platform that stops more people falling into the “funnel of failed accountability”, easing the burden on public services and judicial systems.
How ATL works (high level)
ATL is designed to be credible, proportionate, and safe, not sensational.
1) Structured reporting built for building work
Reports capture the details that matter in construction fraud patterns: who, what, where, when, amounts paid, method of payment, identifiers, evidence types, and project context.2) Evidence-based thresholds and severity tiers
ATL is designed to avoid “blacklisting” dynamics by using thresholds and tiers. It aims to distinguish:
Normal disputes and snagging issues from
Repeat serious rogue behaviour (where patterns and evidence indicate public harm)
3) Pattern recognition across reports and data
ATL focuses on repeat signals over time, not single allegations. The goal is to surface prolific offenders and emerging patterns early.4) Safeguards that protect legitimate trades
ATL anticipates the key risks (defamation, misuse, unfair competition concerns) and is built around mitigations such as:
Evidence thresholds
Severity tiers
Correction routes / right of reply principles
Governance and oversight design
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The commercial case: cost savings and reduced demand on public services
ATL is designed to be a national cost-saving platform.It helps reduce demand across:
Public reporting and enforcement pathways by preventing repeat harm before it occurs
Banks and reimbursement disputes by improving prevention and pattern visibility
Courts and legal routes by reducing the number of victims forced into long civil recovery
Local authority services by reducing repeat incidents and repeat complainants
Tax leakage concerns linked to hidden cash activity and non-compliant operators (where present)
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Our Vision
Our aim is to develop a publicly accessible platform that proactively reduces demand on public services and authorities by:
Unifying fragmented signals and data sources with verified victim testimonials
Targeting repeat rogue behaviour while protecting legitimate trades and fair competition
Preventing fraudsters from further eroding trust in the building industry
Costs savings for public services via a self-regulating reporting and warning system
When enforcement and investigation are weak, it sends a powerful signal to rogues: If you scam people through building work, there are no consequences.ATL exists to change that equation.
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Phase 1 - First Technical MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Outcome: Users can search & check contractors and report fraudulent ones. Development of a weightings criteria engine and integration of Action Fraud UK crime reference numbersPhase 2 - Iterative Growth MVP
Outcome: A real system that users & authorities could trial. Integration of additional data points that uses advanced statistical analysis and AI to identify fraudsters & impersonators, including but not limited to:
- County Court Judgements
- County Court Claims filed
- Insolvency records
- Professional licensing status
- Director disqualification notices
- Trading Standards complaints
- Licensing of builders for domestic works
In the meantime, we’ve pulled together some of the most important lessons from real victims into a helpful guide to help protect homeowners today:
Help us prove the public wants change. By providing your email address, your support builds the case for investors to help fund the development of ATL.
Download your free checklist below & be the first to know when ATL launches:
*Email addresses must be verified for accurately assessing public interest (and GDPR compliance). ATL will never use details for unsolicited marketing.
— The ATL Team
Rebuilding Trust in the Building IndustryStay updated!
Don't miss out — Follow us on social media for the latest news, updates, and exclusive content:
Please share aretheylegit.co.uk with friends, family and colleagues to help spread awareness of our campaign!
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*Sources:
[1. Which? - Exclusive: more than 96% of reported fraud cases go unsolved]
[2. BBC - Fraud victims 'failed' as criminals 'operate with impunity' - report]
[3. Police Foundation - Fraud is not prioritised by the police, report finds]
[4. UK Parliament - Justice response inadequate to meet scale of fraud epidemic]
[5. UK Parliament - PAC: UK risks being seen as “haven for fraudsters” where fraud is “everyone’s problem but no one’s priority"].
[6. UK Parliament - Domestic Building Works (Consumer Protection) Bill]
[7. Cowboy builders could be costing Brits a staggering £14.3 Billion ].
Are They Legit (ATL) – Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 20251. Who We Are
This website is operated by Are They Legit (ATL). Our mission is to help the public identify and avoid fraudulent contractors by providing fraud awareness resources and reporting tools.
Contact: [email protected]2. What Data We Collect
a. Voluntary Data You Provide
- Email address (via sign-up or contact forms)
- Any messages you send usb. Automatically Collected Data
We use Plausible Analytics, a privacy-friendly tool, to collect anonymous website usage statistics. This includes:
- Page views
- Referring websites (e.g. Facebook Groups, email campaigns)
- Approximate location (country/city, without storing IP addresses)
No cookies are used for analytics, and we do not collect or store personal data such as IP addresses or device fingerprints. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16.3. Why We Collect Your Data
| Purpose | Legal Basis |
|---|---|
| To send ATL fraud awareness updates | Consent (sign-up form) |
| To reply to contact submissions | Legitimate interest |
| To understand how the site is used | Legitimate interest (via Plausible Analytics) |
4. How We Use Cookies
We currently do not use tracking or advertising cookies.
Our analytics provider, Plausible, does not use cookies or collect personal data, so no consent banner is required.
We only use essential cookies if needed for form or session functionality.5. Data Sharing
We do not sell or share your data for marketing purposes.
We may use GDPR-compliant third-party services, including:
- Plausible Analytics (for anonymous site usage tracking)
- Brevo (for sending fraud awareness updates)
- Web hosting provider (Carrd or similar)
All partners follow data protection standards under UK GDPR.6. Data Storage
- Form submissions are stored securely by our email or hosting provider
- Analytics data is aggregated and anonymised by Plausible and never includes personal identifiers7. Data Retention
- Newsletter sign-up: until unsubscribed or deleted
- Contact submissions: up to 12 months
- Analytics data: Aggregated only, no personal retention
You may request deletion at any time.8. Your Rights Under UK GDPR
- Access, correct, delete your data
- Restrict or object to processing
- Withdraw consent
- Lodge a complaint with the ICO
To exercise these rights: [email protected]9. External Links
Our site may link to other websites (e.g. fraud reporting agencies). We are not responsible for their privacy policies or data practices.10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy. Revisions will be posted here with the updated date.Cookies – Summary
We use no analytics or tracking cookies.
Analytics data is collected without cookies or personal information using Plausible.
If essential cookies are added (e.g. for forms), they will not require consent.Contact Us
If you have any concerns about this policy or your personal data, contact us at:
📧 [email protected]
Confirm your email address
Please verify your email address using the verification email we've just sent you to get your free 'Contractor Vetting Checklist' and support ATL.
*Check junk folder if email not received
— The ATL Team
Rebuilding Trust in the Building IndustryPlease share aretheylegit.co.uk with friends, family and colleagues to help spread awareness of our campaign!
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for signing up and standing with us to keep our communities safe from contractor fraud. We’ve spoken to hundreds of victims who all have similar stories - The police wouldn’t act. Action Fraud couldn’t help. And the Ombudsman called it a “civil dispute.”That’s why we’re building ATL (Are They Legit) - a public tool that lets you check if a contractor has been reported for fraud before you hire them. You’ve just taken the first step to help make this a reality.
Every new sign-up shows banks, insurers, and regulators that the public wants this tool built. Help us stop fraud before it happens.
Download your free 'Contractor Vetting Checklist' here.
Want to do more? Donate to help us fight contractor fraud.
Your donation fuels development, public outreach, and the tools people and businesses need to protect themselves, and each other.
— The ATL Team
Rebuilding Trust in the Building IndustryStay updated!
Don't miss out — Follow us on social media for the latest news, updates, and exclusive content:
Please share aretheylegit.co.uk with friends, family and colleagues to help spread awareness of our campaign!
ATL Building Works Support Portal (SAMPLE)
A no nonsense support portal to safeguard the public, tradespeople and businesses when engaging in building works
PREVENTION (Low Risk)
"How to Avoid Being Scammed"
Vetting checks, contracts, payment structures, insurance etc
WARNING SIGNS (Medium Risk)
"Could This Be a Scam?"
Delays, excuses, hidden extras, poor communication etc
ACTIVE SCAM (High Risk)
"I Think I'm Being Scammed"
Work stopped, disappearing builder, threats, demands for money etc
DAMAGE CONTROL (Aftermath)
"I've Been Scammed - What Now?"
Legal options, complaints, ombudsman, insurance, small claims etc
PREVENTION
WARNING SIGNS
ACTIVE SCAM
ACTIVE SCAM
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