Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Watch For Scams, Tricks Which Often Follow Storms

For some, the worst part of a disaster is not the loss of all their personal possessions, but being taken advantage of by scam artists.

This has been true for victims of the March 1 tornadoes, as reports surfaced of scam artists showing up offering to do home repairs and asking for pay in advance.

Because of this, the Attorney General's Office offers some tips on how to avoid a potential second disaster.

Some signs of a home-repair scam include:

* Strangers arriving at your home, often in unmarked vehicles, offering to do the repairs;

* Door-to-door salespeople claiming to have finished job nearby and having material left over so they can do the job for half price;

* The contractor giving a post office box address with no street address or telephone number, or a phone number that's nothing more than an answering service;

* Refusal to give a written estimate, contract or references;

* High pressure sales tactics or contractors wanting immediate decisions; and

* Requiring a large down payment.

But, homeowners can protect themselves from these bunko artists by checking out home-repair firms before signing a contract or agreeing to have any work done.

In addition, the homeowner should look at some of the work the contractor has done in the past to see what kind of work they do.

Once a contractor has been selected, make sure all promised are in writing in a contract.

The contract should also specify materials to be used, a completion date and, as a precaution, the homeowner should not make the final payment until the work is completed in accordance with the contract.

Winston Bryant, the Attorney General, said fraudulent home repair contractors target victims who are beginning to recover from the tornadoes.

Some of these criminals promise to do repairs then leave after doing little or nothing -- but only after the homeowner has given them money.

Other scam artists may pose as government inspectors in an attempt to defraud people. Should someone pose as a government official, make sure they have some sort of identification, including a business card with a phone number. Then, call the number and verify the person's identity.

Bryant suggests homeowners get a second or third opinion on work needed to be done. This should include written estimates and a statement of who will be responsible for paying for the materials and equipment.

Also, he said, people should shop around to get the best price they can on materials. Some businesses offer sales on building materials and major home items, such as stoves and refrigerators, following disasters. But, those needing these items should make sure the sale is legitimate and not a "bait and switch" scam.

Under the "bait and switch" scam, a business offers a great deal on an item, but is conveniently out of the sale item when a customer arrives. The salespeople then try and push more expensive items off on the customer.

Homeowners also need to check with local officials, Bryant said, to see if no- or low-cost home inspections are available to help find out about repairs needed.

Once the need for repairs has been determined, he added, don't get pushed into making an instant decision.

He said people need to make sure the contractor they hire has general liability insurance and workers' compensation. Also, he advises to check with the Consumer Protection Service and Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against the contractor in question.

According to Bryant, all electrical or plumbing work dealing with connections must be done by state-licensed professionals, and must be inspected by the municipal building inspectors. These are normally a city's code enforcement officer.

And, there are other scams out there to be wary of. Bryant said for disaster victims to be on the lookout for telephone sales of "disaster relief kits," as such kits don't exist.

There are also bogus charitable fundraising events held for "victims," with prize promotion schemes established and the money raised allegedly going to help those affected by the disasters.

For those who are approached by scam artists, or think they have been, they should call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at (501) 682-2341, or toll-free, 1-800-482-8982. The TDD number for hearing/speech impaired, is (501) 682-6073.