Homeowner says landscaper scammed him out of $10,000

A Colorado Springs homeowner said a local landscaper scammed him out of $10,000 dollars.

Brett Chung said he hired Jae Yoel Ra with J Nature Landscape to do extensive landscaping on his half-acre lot in northern Colorado Springs. Chung chose Ra because he offered him a competitive price for $30,000 and the two are from the same ethnic background.

“In a sense he was struggling, so if I offer him business, I thought I could help him also,” said Chung.

Chung did some research on Yelp and the Better Business Bureau. He saw a complaint listed for J Nature Landscape. Chung said he asked Ra about it and Ra blamed it on a nit-picky customer.

Chung said the landscaper asked for $15,000 before starting the job.

“He wanted 50 percent of the total cost. The reason is this is a big project and his company is small. He needed to buy supply,” said Chung.

He asked if he could pay Ra on his credit card. Chung said he felt more comfortable using a credit card because if things went south, the money would be insured by his credit card company. However, Chung said Ra insisted he pay with cash or a check. Chung was hesitant, but he said Ra’s assistant assured him they were trustworthy.

“His assistant told me (Ra) is trustworthy. He has been doing business for twenty years. Nothing to worry about. She told me, you worry too much,” said Chung.

Chung wrote the landscaping company three $5,000 checks. After Ra cashed the first two checks, Chung said he stopped responding. Since last week, Chung said he’s called Ra more than 20 times and hasn’t heard from him. Chung followed up with the assistant. The assistant’s husband said in an email that his wife no longer works with Ra and had no way to contact him.

“I was too naive. I felt he was sincere so I trusted. I feel betrayed, I feel,” said Chung.

There are two addresses listed for J Nature Landscape on the secretary of state’s website. Ra no longer lives at either address. Neighbors near his apartment on Chapman Drive said he moved out a month ago. The homeowner at Pinyon Jay Drive address said he moved into the home after it foreclosed. The homeowner said numerous people have showed up at the home in recent months trying to track down Ra.

The website for J Nature Landscape was taken down. KRDO NewsChannel 13 tried three phone numbers associated with the business; one of them was disconnected and no one answered the other numbers.

“The last two days to be honest, I lost lots of sleep,” said Chung.

Chung said he has contacted police and will work with investigators to file a case against the landscaper. Chung saved surveillance video of Ra and his assistant to help police identify them.

Chung said it’s been a tough learning lesson and he hopes other people can learn from his mistake.

“Maybe I trusted people too much,” said Chung. “Business is business. One of the lessons I learned, don’t trust first-time business.”

Late Monday night, Chung said the former assistant told Chung she knew his address and would go to his home to help him get a refund. Chung said Ra called him after hearing the story would be on KRDO NewsChannel 13. Chung said Ra told him he was upset he took the story public so he does not plan on refunding him the $10,000.