Fighting fraud

Priscilla Rodriguez, an Administrative Officer 3 in the Consumer and Neighborhood Protection section of the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), knows firsthand the challenges residents can face when dealing with dishonest contractors. Contractors may agree to provide services, collect deposits and then disappear, or start a project without completing the work. Priscilla has experienced this herself. “I personally dealt with this while remodeling my own home,” she shared. Because of her experience, she understands the frustration residents feel when they reach out for help and aren’t sure where to turn.

Priscilla began her Miami-Dade County career with RER in April 2023 as a Building Code Compliance Officer. She was later promoted to Contract Enforcement Investigator and then to Administrative Officer 3, the position she holds today. As part of RER’s Contractor Enforcement team, Priscilla helps investigate complaints involving contractors who take money from property owners without completing the work. The team works to seek restitution or mediation for property owners and partners with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office to investigate cases of fraud. These efforts have helped lead to the arrest of contractors who fail to conduct business in good faith in Miami-Dade County.

“I’ve always had a passion for investigating fraud,” Priscilla explained. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Fraud, a passion inspired not only by her personal experience but also by her previous work in the private sector. Before joining RER, Priscilla served as a Quality Assurance Supervisor, where she ensured that documents submitted for individuals seeking to become licensed welders were accurate, complete and certified.

Priscilla’s dedication to helping residents was recently recognized by Councilmember Johnny G. Farias during a visit to RER. “Recently, I visited RER, specifically the Contractor Enforcement section, an area that is often challenging for residents and contractors. I encountered a young lady, Priscilla Rodriguez, who was absolutely amazing and went out of her way to assist us, even walking us downstairs to ensure we could be seen. Her professionalism made a typically difficult process much easier.”

When asked about the encounter, Priscilla shared, “I really enjoy interacting with the community, helping them find resolutions and guiding them to the resources they need.”

A proud mother of two, Priscilla says that being able to lead by example is her greatest motivation. “I always share with them, If I can do it, you can too.” She also lives by a simple philosophy: treat others the way you would want to be treated. “Everyone has some type of hardship that we may never know about, so be respectful and help each other out.”

Keep THRIVING, Priscilla!