Hurricane Ian clobbered Florida, Georgia and South Carolina this week, inflicting billions of dollars in damages to companies and owners. However the storm is not the one risk to these in its path.
Pure disasters like Ian generally appeal to scammers, typically dubbed "storm chasers," who pose as respected contractors and trawl broken communities to be able to bilk unsuspecting owners out of their insurance coverage payouts or different advantages, akin to non-public donations or federal restoration funds..
However there are methods to identify fraudsters, consultants advised CBS MoneyWatch. It begins with merely being conscious of the varieties of scams that usually path the destruction left by hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and different disasters. Right here three of the commonest scams, together with ideas from insurance coverage professionals on how one can keep away from being taken for a journey.
Phony contractors
Phony contractors typically seem a day or two after a significant storm hit an space and arrange store in a strip mall or a leisure automobile, stated David Glawe, CEO of the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau. These fraudsters will contact owners and inform them that staff can start repairs on their home instantly so solely as they signal a contract with the corporate. The contract, nonetheless, re-assigns any forthcoming insurance coverage payout to the faux firm as an alternative of its meant recipient, the house owner.
Folks impacted by a significant storm are attempting to get again on their ft as rapidly as doable, and these fake contractors are like "vultures" who prey on folks's comprehensible need to renew life as regular, Glawe stated.
"Susceptible folks will suppose they're getting a fast resolution, however they will not be," he advised CBS MoneyWatch.
If somebody contacts you claiming to be a contractor, take down the particular person's title and telephone quantity, Glawe suggested. Analysis the corporate on-line and ensure it is licensed to work in your state or metropolis. If the corporate has unhealthy evaluations from the Higher Enterprise Bureau or does not have a registered license, it is doubtless a rip-off.
"In case your Spidey sense goes off, reject them," Glawe stated.
Roof wreckers
One other widespread rip-off includes somebody visiting your house after a extreme storm and providing to examine for injury in your roof.
As soon as in your roof, the particular person pretends to identify or truly intentionally damages your property, typically utilizing golf balls underneath their footwear to simulate puncture marks from hail. They then provide to assist the house owner submit a injury declare to the insurance coverage supplier. The faux roofers receives a commission by convincing the house owner to file a declare with their insurance coverage firm after which sending the examine to them.
One pink flag is that if an individual goes door to door providing roof work, utilizing pushy gross sales techniques and demanding fee up entrance, stated Logan McFaddin, a regional supervisor overlaying Florida for the American Property Casualty Insurance coverage Affiliation.
"By no means pay up entrance in full," she stated. "That is not how professional contractors work. Funds are performed in installments because the work is completed."
McFaddin stated one of the best technique is to ask the particular person at your door for an inventory of references. A good firm ought to be capable to present that info, she stated. Consultants additionally suggest getting worth quotes from two or three licensed roofers earlier than making any choices, she stated.
Particles clearing no-shows
For this rip-off, unhealthy actors sometimes goal the aged or disabled. Somebody pretending to symbolize a elimination firm will go door to door asking owners to signal a contract and make a down fee to have somebody clear fallen tree branches, rubble and trash from their garden. The particular person walks away with a signed contract and down fee cash, however nobody returns to do the work.
The easiest way to not ripped off is rarely to provide anybody a down fee for future companies and solely provide fee after the work is completed, Glawe stated.
"When you pay that cash to them, it is out the door and chances are you'll not get it again," he stated.