Reports about storms, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes might make you feel like moving to some place like Greenland where the weather is consistent and you can hibernate year round. The 2024 hurricane season will last until November 30th, and with water temperatures still high, some forecasters predict we could see a hurricane as late as December.
We've previously discussed Fortified® Roof systems, how to prepare your home for a storm, and the importance of flood insurance if you live near a body of water. However, what should you do to avoid becoming a victim of scams if a catastrophic storm or tornado damages your home? Here’s what the experts recommend.
After The Storm Has Passed
Check for Damage at Home
Inspect your home for damage to ensure there are no hazardous conditions, such as gas leaks or downed power lines, that might force you to evacuate. If you find any dangers, call 9-1-1, move to a safe location, and then contact your insurance provider. To expedite the process, it's a good idea to have their emergency number and your policy number saved in your phone.
Stay Indoors Unless It's Unsafe
Do not leave your house unless you are certain there are no downed power lines, standing water, or damaged trees that could potentially fall.
Document the Damage
Take pictures of the damage and make notes of any personal items that need repair or replacement. Be as detailed as possible in your descriptions. Ideally, you should have already recorded the brand names, purchase dates, serial numbers, and replacement costs of your appliances and stored that information safely (such as with your insurance provider). If you haven’t, write down whatever details you have to provide to your adjuster.
Don’t Make Permanent Repairs
Wait for your adjuster’s assessment and the approval of your insurance company before making or ordering repairs to your home. It will be tempting to start fixing any damage, but you should only do what is necessary to prevent further damage, like boarding up broken windows or placing a tarp on your roof.
Don’t clean up or throw out any damaged items. Your adjuster needs to see them and record the context of how the damage occurred.
Look Out For Scammers
Many scams begin with contractors who “just happen to be in the area” and have noticed your roof, siding, or yard needs repairs. Before hiring any contractors, make sure you’ve finished filing your claim with your insurance provider and have a clear understanding of what is and what is not covered by your policy. There are lots of legitimate contractors who may knock on your door after a storm, but check that they are registered and highly rated with BBB.org before hiring.
The Most Frequent Scams
Fake contractors will take your money and never do any work or will get on your roof and smash dents and holes in it with a hammer to imitate hail damage.
Government, utility, and insurance imposters will claim to work for a company or agency and offer grants or building permits to help speed up the process. They will ask for a deposit or fee to reconnect you to the grid or push through a building permit. Some will even ask for your credit card or banking information so they can “deposit” funds.
Charities pop up in abundance following a natural disaster. Some will go door to door to ask for donations, while others will email or text you with pleas. Still others will post all over social media stories about people who are suffering and how you can donate through a Go-Fund-Me to help those in need.
Dos and Don’ts
Following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, imposters went door-to-door to talk to homeowners and even those without homes, offering to help them push through claim paperwork faster for a small fee. They had fake FEMA badges and official-looking paperwork, but they were scamming victims at their most vulnerable time. Here are some simple ways you can prevent being scammed:
Always ask for ID from anyone posing as an official of any company or charity.
Never give your credit card number, your social security number, or your banking information to anyone you haven’t been able to verify. The only way to do this confidently is to call the company’s main number and work your way through recorded messages until you can speak to a live person and confidently know what is legitimate and what is not. Do not call a number provided by the contractor. Look it up yourself.
Don’t accept “On-The-Spot” offers that ask for payment in advance unless, of course, it is someone you know and trust.
Don’t take unsolicited offers. If you didn’t ask for assistance from FEMA or another company, do not accept the call at all. Scammers want as much of your personal information as they can get so they can apply for assistance in your name and redirect payments to themselves. If you have applied for assistance, your contact will know your application number (which you would have received when you applied) and should recite it to you to verify they are legitimate.
Only give to legitimate charities. Make sure the charity’s name and web address are exact matches, and that the website has an abundance of information on it – it’s not just a page or two. For example, there should be pages on their leadership, their history of relief work, an About Us section, etc.
No government or financial agency will ask for payment to conduct an inspection or help you apply for disaster assistance. FEMA employees never ask for funds.
Preparation is a Key to Preventing Fraud
It is always a good idea to have the following ready for when a disaster strikes:
Clarify with your insurance provider what is and isn’t covered.
Have verified contractors, roofers, plumbers, electricians, tree removal companies and other services in your phone contacts well before a storm hits.
If you don’t have a contractor on speed dial, check the vehicle of any contractor who shows up unsolicited for a business name and phone number. Ask to see their state contractor license and get references. Check them out on bbb.org and other review sites like Google Reviews and Yelp. Don’t let anyone pressure you into doing anything.
What to Do If You Are Scammed
Local law enforcement, the FBI, and the Department of Justice have combined forces to create the National Center for Disaster Fraud. You can report an incident at 866-720-5721 or go online at National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) | National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF)
FEMA wants to know if anyone is scamming you in their name and has created its own Disaster Fraud Line: 866-223-0814 or you can email them at tipline@fema.dhs.gov
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