Now that the storm has passed, people who live in the counties that were affected by wind and water damage will see an influx of storm-related scams. The top scams that follow the path of storms include home and roof repairs, donations and flood-damaged cars. These scams happen after every major storm or natural disaster.
“We want to make the citizens of Cleveland County aware of these types of scams so that they do not become victims,” said Cleveland County Manager Brian Epley.
Here’s how these storm-related scams work and what you can do:
Home and roof repair scams: Aggressive home repair companies will hire telemarketers to call residents in storm-damaged areas to set up appointments to assess your home for wind and water damage. In some hard-hit areas, roof repair companies will go door-to-door to sign homeowners up for new roofs. Their goal is to get you to sign a contract, file an insurance claim, and sign over your insurance check to them. Then, the repair company will either not return at all or your repair will not happen for up to six months.
How to protect yourself: 1) Contract with local companies that have a long history of doing business locally. 2) Check a business out with the Better Business Bureau prior to signing a contract with them at www.BBB.org. 3) Be careful about “storm chasers” who are based in another state and using their pick-up truck as their office.Donation scams: After a natural disaster, many people want to help others who were adversely impacted by the storm. “When we see people who have lost their homes, we want to give money to help them rebuild their lives,” said Epley. “We encourage you to give, but to give carefully.” Fake nonprofits will use look-alike and sound-alike names of well-known nonprofit organizations to solicit donations by telephone or email.
How to protect yourself: 1) Give to reputable, nonprofit organizations that are experienced at providing disaster relief services. 2) Check out charities with the Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org before you give to them to see how effective they are at carrying out their mission. 3) Do not give cash and do not give your credit card or bank account information to anyone who calls you or emails you asking for a donation. 4) If you want to give, you should reach out to the organization and make your contribution directly to them.Flood-damaged vehicles: In a few months, the used car market will literally be flooded with flood-damaged cars for sale. “These cars were totaled by insurance companies, but have been fixed up and will soon be for sale on car lots of unscrupulous used car dealers,” Epley added.
How to protect yourself: 1) Ask to see the car’s title and do not pay for a car with the promise of getting the title in the mail in a few days. If it doesn’t have a title or has a title that indicates it was a total loss, you should be very wary of buying the car because you will not be able to resell it without a valid title. 2) Have a mechanic whom you trust check the vehicle out for flood damage that may not be obvious.“The key to not falling victim is to do your homework and check a company or nonprofit out before you sign a contract, make a donation or buy a used car,” said Epley. “We don’t want anyone in Cleveland County to lose money in a scam.”