State agencies are promoting the use of the website suspectfraud.com and urging consumers to check with the state before hiring a business to do work for them.

Visiting suspectfraud.com before signing any contract can protect you, your property and potentially save you money, state officials say.

The site provides access to tools to verify a business is registered and licensed with the state. Consumers can check to see if a business is behind on taxes, has complaints filed against it or is subject to state enforcement actions. They can also report a business that they suspect is not following the rules.

The departments of Labor & Industries, Employment Security, and Revenue developed the website to give consumers a leg up when it comes to hiring a contractor, working with a business or paying for a service. The agencies are promoting the suspectfraud.com campaign to raise consumer awareness during the months of May and June. The site is available year-round.