| Whether it’s tornadoes or floods, wildfires or hurricanes, it seems like it’s always natural disaster season—which means it’s always a good time for scammers to try and rip people off. Following extreme weather events, dubious contractors and outright scammers descend on affected communities, offering quick, cheap fixes. While some reputable contractors solicit door-to-door, many knockers are running scams. Here’s how to be sure you avoid the damage to your wallet these criminals can cause. |
| How It Works• Someone claiming to be a contractor arrives on your doorstep and explains he’s just finished a job fixing storm damage on a neighbor’s property.•Since he’s here already, he’ll say he can handle your needed repairs at a steep discount.•He’ll more than likely ask for payment upfront or try to convince you to sign over payment from your insurance company. What You Should Know• Shady contractors and outright scammers flood (no pun intended) areas hit by extreme weather events in search of “work” that they may or may not even attempt to do.•Many will specifically target older homeowners who they perceive as more trusting, more likely to have savings and—they think—may be experiencing cognitive decline. What You Should Do• As convenient and as compelling as it may seem, avoid reactively agreeing to repair work at your doorstep; rather, proactively seek out contractors that you can research.•Get written estimates and compare bids from multiple contractors before starting any work.•Ask contractors for references—and check them.•Pay no more than a third of the total cost prior to the work beginning—and then only when materials arrive. |
| Reprinted from AARP Fraud Watch Network |