Hillsborough County is launching a program to help victims of wage theft.

“The program is designed to assist employees, generally lower wage employees that don’t have any means of addressing the issue with their employer,” the program's director Eric Olsen said.

The process starts with mediation and if that doesn’t work, free legal assistance is provided to those who qualify.

Charles Davis is among those who plans to take advantage of the new program. Davis needed a job to support his family. Back in October, he thought he found the perfect one.

“Telemarketing work, no cold calling, $500 a week,” Davis said.

But right away, Davis said there were red flags. He was hired within 30 minutes of applying and no one ever asked for his Social Security number or his employment history.

After a couple of weeks, Davis said he began hearing paychecks were bouncing. When he finally got his, Davis said it was short more than half of what he was supposed to receive. Before he could get answers, Davis said the company closed.

“It was a sense of disappointment, failure,” Davis said. “Failure because I had to come home and tell my wife and tell the kids.”

Out nearly $400, Davis fell behind on his car payment and rent. He said he gave up hope of ever getting paid - until he learned about the county's new program.

“My exact words were 'My prayers are answered,' ” Davis said. “Those were my exact words.”

For more information, visit the county’s site at HillsboroughCounty.org/WageRecovery.