‘I got reverse scammed’: Contractor builds new chicken coop for homeowner, then disappears without getting paid, homeowner spends months trying to find him

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 19, 2025 5:00 AM EST

When the 70-year-old homeowner in the story below decided she needed a new coop for her chickens, she never expected to find someone who would do this job for free. She also didn't want that; she fully intended to pay for the person who provided her with that service.

So when her lawn guy recommended his friend, Jason, for the job, the homeowner happily reached out, and Jason was more than willing to take that job. For a few weeks, he came over and worked on that chicken coop, and in mid-July, the job was finally done.

But when the homeowner tried to reach Jason and pay him for his well-done job, he was nowhere to be found. For months now, she has done everything in her power to find Jason and give him the payment he deserves, but it has become apparent to her that Jason does not want to be paid.

Now this sweet homeowner is considering using that money for something else, and is wondering if that is the right call to make…

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  • 01

    WIBTA if I spent the money meant to pay someone who did a job for me?

    I(F70) have backyard chickens. I planned to have a new, bigger coop built for them this
    via pjm14624
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10577536512
    via Virrage Images Inc

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 03
    My regular contractor ghosted me a couple times for an estimate, so I was whining to my lawn guy about that.
    via pjm14624
  • 04
    My lawn guy said he knew a guy that would probably be willing to do it, and he probably \\wouldn't\\ ask for money.
    via pjm14624
  • 05
    I said I would feel bad if someone did all that work and didn't get paid for it.
    via pjm14624
  • 06
    This is important for later. Lawn guy gave my number to a guy, Jason, who texted me and arranged for him to come look at the site and discuss what I wanted.
    via pjm14624
  • 07
    He was stoked about the job and asked if it would be okay if he came after work each day during the week.
    via pjm14624
  • 08
    I told him I didn't care when he did it, as long as it was done by the end of July.
    via pjm14624
  • 09
    It occurred to e after he left that we'd never discussed his fee, other than him saying "I work cheap." I ordered the materials online from Home Depot, then Jason and I went there and picked it up with his truck.
    via pjm14624
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10577536768
    via chuckcollier

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    I paid for everything. For the next couple weeks, he came by after work. He finished the job a week before the end of July.
    via pjm14624
  • 12
    After he picked up all the building materials and loaded his truck, I asked him "How much do I owe you?" He said that he'd need to figure that out since he'd picked up a few things at Home Depot, and needed to calculate his costs, and that he'd let me know.
    via pjm14624
  • 13
    That was on 7/24. As of today (11/17) I have not heard from Jason to pay him.
    via pjm14624
  • 14
    I have texted him 7 times, called him a 2 times, even asked Lawn guy to pass along that I am still looking to pay him for his work.
    via pjm14624
  • 15
    I have been unable to contact Jason and Lawn guy is apparently reluctant to disclose any personal information about Jason, and kind of smiles when he says that.
    via pjm14624
  • 16
    My son, an attorney, says that since we didn't discuss a price and there's no contract, and I bought the materials, I am not legally obligated to pay him if he shows up a year from now looking for the money.
    via pjm14624
  • 17
    Also, the fact that Lawn guy said Jason would "probably do it for free" tells me that Jason had no intentions of taking money for the job.
    via pjm14624
  • 18
    Why, I have no idea. Sometimes I joke that I got reverse scammed - he did the work and ghosted me for the money rather than taking the money and not showing up for the work.
    via pjm14624
  • 19
    I'm not complaining, but I feel bad that he did all that work in the brutal heat and I haven't been able to pay him.
    via pjm14624
  • 20
    My thought is to hang on to the money until the end of the year and, if I haven't heard from him, use it to replace my sump pump that is limping along.
    via pjm14624
  • 21
    I feel like I have done my due diligence in trying to contact him. only have his phone number and first name, tried reverse lookup on his phone number, and came up empty.
    via pjm14624
  • 22
    So, WIBTA if I spend this money if my deadline passes and he hasn't claimed his money?
    via pjm14624

  • We are not sure what warms our hearts more, the fact that Jason was happy to build the chicken coop for free, or the homeowner who wanted to refused to give up and find a way to show Jason her appreciation. 

    Thankfully, the story has a happy ending. Keep scrolling for the update!

  • 23
    UPDATE: I found him, thanks to a suggestion I search his phone number on PayPal or Venmo.
    via pjm14624
  • 24
    I found him on PayPal, sent him $550 and a note thanking him for his excellent work and his kindness.
    via pjm14624
  • 25
    Thanks for ALL of the kind words here, and for some of you, thanks for the laughs and giggles.
    via pjm14624
  • 26
    To put some minds at ease, I'm 1,000% positive he didn't bury anything under the chicken coop, as it is built on asphalt.
    via pjm14624
  • 27
    Actual-Existential NTA but what did he bury in your yard????
    via Actual-Existential
  • 28
    OP pjm14624 You really should issue beverage warnings for this kind of comment. LOL
    via pjm14624
  • 29
    clxz2106 NTA, maybe he's just a kind dude. If he does come back after you've spent the money, and you want to pay him then, you can figure it out later. But since it's been months and he ghosted you, he probably won't come back for it.
    via clxz2106
  • 30
    OP pjm14624 Funny you should say that - a friend of mine wondered if this guy is "atoning" for something he did in his life. I mean, I'm an old lady, but I can still carry a 50 lb bag of chicken feed up that hill to the chicken feeder. I'm not soft or helpless. I just didn't want to mess around with trying to build that coop, when I have no building experience and knew it would come out looking like a finished Jenga game. And honestly? There are a lot of people out there who could use help like
    via pjm14624
  • 31
    CE2JRH How much do you pay the lawn guy, and how old/how well off is Jason? I'm a tradie. If I was bored and a close friend said this old lady who's been really good to me, could use a favour from needs a hand, mind helping her out, I might do it for free depending on the scope.
    via CE2JRH
  • 32
    OP pjm14624 Jason has a grandchild - I recall him talking about him when we were chit chatting one day. I know he works with my lawn guy in an environment that is brutally hot during the summer months. They wear coveralls like mechanics wear, but I think they work around machinery. I seem to remember lawn guy talking about a union. So, that's all I know. He built a 10'x10' coop. I pay my lawn guy $40 for my 1/4 acre lot, and a dozen fresh eggs (which, earlier this year, could've been worth $50!
    via pjm14624
  • 33
    Brookml Just see if his number comes up on Venmo PayPal or Zelle and send him $500
    via Brookml
  • 34
    OP pjm14624 It worked! I found him, sent him $550, and a note thanking him for his excellent work, and his kindness. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SUGGESTION!
    via pjm14624

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Tags

aita lawn good job woman chicken job chicken coop work homeowner yard building payment contractor funny home money build lady
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