Protecting yourself after a storm

Individuals infamously called “storm chasers” have been known to follow the path of natural disasters or severe weather as an opportunity to take advantage of homeowners and commit fraud or scams. Everyone should remain alert after a storm; but these storm chasers target older adults in need of help at a higher rate.

There are several scams storm chasers use. We've highlighted three common scams, ways to spot them, and how to protect yourself.

Government Aid Imposters

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is one of the common agencies that storm chasers pose as. Don’t give out any personal information to someone you don’t know, FEMA will not require banking information or your social security number. FEMA offers free service and will not ask you for a payment.

What to look for

• Someone coming to your home without submitting an application
• Getting a letter from FEMA without submitting an application
• Asking for banking information or other personal information
• Asking for money or an application fee

How to protect yourself

• FEMA inspectors are not authorized to collect your personal information
• If you believe you are the victim of a scam, report it immediately
  • Call FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
  • And report it to your local sheriff’s department

Home Repair Schemes

After a storm you may have many roofing, landscape and repair companies come to your door advertising their services. Some of these groups will be trusted local businesses, but some could be scammers. A common scam from a storm chaser is to ask for full payment upfront for services, then disappear without completing the work. In some cases, scammers may also charge an excessive amount of money for things like tree removal.

Also: you should not accept offers from companies that want to pay for your homeowner's insurance deductible and fake reports to the insurance company; it can potentially implicate the homeowner in a case of insurance fraud.

What to look for

• Pressure to sign a contract immediately
• Asking for large or complete payment upfront
• Offers to pay for insurance deductible or offers other no-cost incentives
• Will charge for unnecessary repairs

How to protect yourself

• Ask contractors for references and check them out
• Obtain at least three written itemized estimates
• Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there are any complaints against the company
• Ensure the contractor has the required licensing. Legitimate contractors should be able to provide any of the following:
  • Business license
  • General liability insurance
  • workers' compensation insurance
  • Written manufacturer warranties
  • Written labor warranties

Fake Fundraises

Seeing the aftermath of a storm can inspire a lot of people to what to help where they can. Scammers, unfortunately, also see this as an opportunity. They can easily create legitimate-looking websites with names similar to actual charities.

How to protect yourself

• Double check the websites, legitimate website typically end in “.org” or “.com”
• Do not give out money over the phone unless you have initiated the call and are confident that the charity is legitimate.
• Research a charity by going to www.give.org or www.charitynavigator.org
• Be wary of pop-up ads or emails from charities; instead, go to the actual website of the charity you want to donate to.
• Be cautious of crowdfunding sites, those sites do little to vet people who post for disaster assistance.

Resources

After a natural disaster, the rebuilding process can be extensive and challenging. We’ve added resources below to help. ArchWell Health is also here to help.

• FEMA
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Offers finical assistance with home repairs and rebuilding
• Attorney General’s Office
  • Report fraud and scams to your local Attorney General’s office
• BBB
• American Red Cross
  • A reputable non-profit that assists with providing shelter, food and comfort to families
• USA.gov
  • An additional resource to help find financial assistance with food, bills, and more. But it also connects you to resources to help find missing loved ones, volunteering your time and where to donate.

ArchWell Health is also here to help. Natural disasters can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Come in to talk to a social worker about available community resources or join a center activity to give yourself a break.