5 Mold Testing Scams to Avoid and What to Do Instead

When you suspect mold in your home, the last thing you need is to fall victim to a scam that wastes your money and leaves you with unreliable information. Unfortunately, the mold testing industry attracts some bad actors who exploit homeowner fears. Here are five common scams to watch for and what legitimate mold testing should look like.

Scam 1: Free Testing with Required Remediation

This is perhaps the most common mold industry scam. A company offers free mold testing, then inevitably finds serious mold problems that require expensive remediation - which they conveniently also provide.

The Red Flags

• Testing is free but only if you use their remediation services
• Every test magically finds dangerous mold requiring immediate action
• The same company does both testing and remediation
• High-pressure sales tactics to sign a remediation contract immediately

What to Do Instead

Pay for independent testing from a company that does not offer remediation services. This eliminates the conflict of interest. Legitimate inspectors will give you honest assessments even when it means telling you there is no significant problem.

Scam 2: Scare Tactics with Black Mold

Some testers use the term "black mold" to terrify homeowners into unnecessary testing and remediation. While Stachybotrys chartarum (the infamous "toxic black mold") does produce mycotoxins, many black-colored molds are relatively harmless, and most mold problems do not involve Stachybotrys at all.

The Red Flags

• Immediate diagnosis of dangerous black mold without lab testing
• Claims that any dark-colored mold is toxic
• Statements that your family is in immediate danger
• Pressure to evacuate your home before testing is complete

What to Do Instead

Request proper lab analysis to identify the specific mold species present. A responsible professional will explain that mold color does not determine toxicity and that proper identification requires laboratory testing.

Scam 3: Unnecessary and Excessive Testing

Some companies recommend far more testing than a situation warrants, running up bills with air samples from every room, surface samples from every speck, and repeat testing that provides no useful additional information.

The Red Flags

• Recommending air samples from every room in your house
• Surface testing visible mold that clearly needs remediation regardless of species
• Proposing expensive ERMI testing when simpler methods would suffice
• Suggesting ongoing testing programs with monthly or quarterly sampling

What to Do Instead

Ask the tester to explain exactly why each sample is necessary and what decision it will inform. A legitimate professional can justify their testing protocol and will not recommend tests that will not change your course of action.

Scam 4: Home Test Kits with Required Lab Analysis

You have seen them at the hardware store: cheap mold test kits that promise to tell you if you have a mold problem. The kit itself costs $10-30, but the required lab analysis runs $50-150, and the results are often meaningless or misleading.

The Red Flags

• Settle plates that will grow mold from any home (because mold spores are everywhere)
• Results that come back positive regardless of actual conditions
• No baseline comparison to outdoor levels or typical indoor concentrations
• Vague or alarming interpretations designed to sell remediation services

What to Do Instead

If you suspect mold, either conduct a thorough visual inspection yourself or hire a qualified professional. DIY test kits rarely provide actionable information and can create false positives that cause unnecessary worry or false negatives that provide false reassurance.

Scam 5: Credentials That Do Not Exist

The mold industry has legitimate certifications, but some companies invent impressive-sounding credentials or misrepresent their qualifications. "Board Certified" or "Licensed Mold Specialist" might mean nothing in your state.

The Red Flags

• Credentials from organizations you cannot verify
• Claims of state licensing in states that do not license mold professionals
• Certifications with generic or impressive-sounding names that are not industry standard
• Unwillingness to provide credential verification

Legitimate Certifications to Look For

• ACAC (American Council for Accredited Certification)
• IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification)
• AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association)
• State licenses where applicable (Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and others require licensing)

Finding Honest Mold Professionals

Use our contractor vetting guide to evaluate mold testing and remediation companies. Key questions to ask include whether they separate testing and remediation services, what specific certifications they hold and can you verify them, can they explain their testing protocol and why each sample is necessary, and will they provide a written report with clear recommendations.

A legitimate professional will welcome these questions and provide clear, verifiable answers. Anyone who gets defensive or dismissive about their qualifications or methodology is not someone you want in your home.