Attorney General Warns Georgians to Be Aware of Post-Hurricane Scams

A Toombs County woman complained last week that just after Hurricane Helene hit, a man claiming to be a tree removal expert offered to remove a single tree from her roof — at a cost of $16,000! The man, who was driving a truck with a Texas license plate, told the woman that her insurance would cover the cost of the work. The woman was right to be suspicious, and refused the offer. The man just drove down the street in the upscale neighborhood and stopped at another house to make another pitch.

Attorney General Chris Carr is warning Georgians to be aware of possible storm-related scams associated with recent storms and flooding.

“Unfortunately, criminals will often try to take advantage of those impacted by severe weather,' Carr said. 'Make sure you know how to spot and report a scam before turning over your hard-earned dollars, and contact our Consumer Protection Division if you’re in need of assistance.”

Contractors

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division offers the following tips to help consumers avoid scams and other fraud in the aftermath of a storm: Steer clear of any contractor who asks for full payment up-front, only accepts payment in cash, or refuses to provide a written contract. Avoid door-todoor offers for home repair work. Instead, ask friends and neighbors for referrals. Be skeptical of any contractor that offers to pay insurance deductibles or offers other no-cost incentives, as these can be signs of a scam. Always talk to your insurance company before committing to any stormrelated repairs or inspections. Ask contractors for references and check them out. Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there are any complaints against the business.

Ensure that the contractor has the required licensing and/or affiliation.

Tree removal

Check with the International Society of Arboriculture to make sure the person has a valid arborist license. Water Damage and Mold

Only hire businesses that are local and qualified in mold remediation and property restoration. To find local contractors and restorers, check with the Society of Cleaning and Restoration Technicians and the Restoration Industry Association.

Contractors

General contractors, electricians, plumbers, and heating and air conditioning contractors must be licensed with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. To look up a contractor, visit sos.ga.gov. Note that certain specialty occupations such as roofers, tree removal services, painters, drywall contractors and repair handymen are not required to be licensed by the state.

Legitimate contractors should be able to provide the following: business license, general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, written manufacturer warranties, written labor warranties Public adjusters are also required to carry a license to do work in the state. Before hiring a public adjuster to do any work on your behalf, call the Insurance Commissioner’s Office at 1-800-656-2298 to verify that he/she is licensed and that his/ her contract has been approved.

Identity theft/fraud

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says thieves try and apply for federal assistance using names, addresses, and Social Security numbers stolen from those affected by the disaster. 'If a FEMA inspector comes to your home and you did not submit a FEMA application, your information may have been used without your knowledge to create a FEMA application,' the agency said in a release. 'If this happens, please inform the inspector that you did not apply for FEMA assistance so they can submit a request to stop further processing of the application.'

FEMA says if you receive a letter from the agency about assistance you did not apply for, call its hotline at 800-621-3362 so a stop can be placed on the application process. The agency says that for those wanting to apply for assistance after stopping an application made in their name without their knowledge, the helpline can assist in that process as well.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews, housing inspectors and other officials will be working in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. They carry official photo identification badges. FEMA representatives never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. Their services are free. Don't believe anyone who promises a disaster grant in return for payment. Don't give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors are never authorized to collect your personal financial information.

Anyone believing they have become the victim of a scam is asked to immediately report the incident to local police or their county sheriff's office, or contact Georgia’s Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 404-651-8600 or toll-free 800-869-1123.

Anyone with knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse, is asked to report the information — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-7205721, or by emailing Stop-FEMAFraud@ fema.dhs. gov.

For the latest information about storm recovery in Georgia, visit fema.gov/ disaster/4830 online.