Beware of scams! (Florida: insurance, home, neighborhood)

[annerk]

I posted this in the NJ Forum, but it applies to NY as well.

There are already "public adjusters," "contractors" and "cleanup crews" in NJ to take advantage of people. These people aren't licensed to do business in NJ, don't know jack squat about NJ property and building codes, and are only there to rip people off.

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH AN ADJUSTER WHO WAS NOT SENT BY YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY! They will charge you 10% or more of your claim to get you a check! Not needed! Some insurance companies WILL be hiring public adjusters to work for them, these people are being vetted and their work is being supervised. If someone shows up at your door claiming to have been sent by your insurance, do not speak to them unless you can verify that indeed they were sent by the insurance. Don't trust a letter they hand you, if it didn't come in the mail from your insurance company to you, it is a SCAM!

DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH AN UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR!! They aren't insured and know nothing about NJ building codes. If they screw up they will walk away and leave you hanging with a botched repair that could cost more to fix than the original damage! There will be no recourse! It's better to wait longer and get it done right the first time by a licensed, insured contractor!

DON'T HIRE AN UNLICENSED CLEAN UP CREW! They could be scam artists looking to gain entry to your home and RIP YOU OFF! Don't hire anyone without a business license and insurance! If they get injured on your property--you are liable if they aren't a legitimate business!

ALL FEMA EMPLOYEES CARRY A FEDERAL PHOTO ID! If someone comes to your door claiming to be from FEMA, ask to see their Government ID. If they can't produce one, call 9-1-1! Do NOT let them into your home and do NOT give them any information--not even your name!

Be wary--the scam artists will be out in force over the next couple of weeks. I saw far too many people get scammed and loose tens of thousands of dollars as a result in Florida after the 2004 storms. Don't trust anyone who can't prove who they are and that they have insurance and a business license. Follow up with the insurance carriers and the licensing organization to verify they are legit before you sign anything. Beware any stranger knocking on your door or calling on the phone. If you haven't filed a claim and someone calls claiming to be from your insurance company hang up and call the number on your policy or your companies web site for claim filing.

THE WORST OF THE WORST OF THE CON ARTISTS AND SCUM COME OUT AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER. DON'T LET YOURSELF BECOME A VICTIM A SECOND TIME!!

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS--PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY WHO ARE MOST COMMONLY VICTIMS OF SCAM ARTISTS! EXPLAIN THIS ALL TO THEM, OFFER TO ASSIST THEM IN FINDING HELP. BANDING TOGETHER AS A GROUP WILL KEEP EVERYONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER!!

[Kefir King]

They arre strolling/trolling the streets collecting money already.

[ja1myn]

Wow what a bunch of scum bags.