You finally decide to fix that sagging front porch. You interview a contractor, get a written estimate, sign a contract, and hand over a $3,000 deposit on a $10,000 job. The work is set to begin in a few weeks. You feel good about it. Then, the contractor stops responding to you. Your phone calls go straight to voicemail. You drive past the contractor's office and see a hand-lettered sign on the front door. The company is closed. The owner is gone. Your $3,000 has vanished a