Go online with the BBB to protect yourself from Hurricane Dorian scams
As Hurricane Dorian keeps strengthening, it will sure impact many thousands of people. People that are ripe to fall for scams.
The Better Business Bureau is warning local residents that may be affected by Hurricane Dorian to beware of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors soliciting business. It is common for out-of-town storm chasers to solicit business after storms; read more about how to protect yourself. Disaster victims should never feel pressured to make a decision by an unknown contractor. Consumers should Start With Trust and look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal; these companies are screened, monitored, licensed and trusted. Storm chasers may not have proper licensure for your area and may offer quick fixes or make big promises to which they won’t deliver.
Your BBB offers resources for Hurricane Dorian victims at www.bbb.org/floridahurricane.
BBB’s Florida Hurricane Guide provides a one-stop resource page to help c consumers, businesses and nonprofits prepare for a hurricane. Within this guide, you will find tips on disaster preparedness, recovery and repair, how to avoid storm chaser scams, giving wisely to disaster relief charities and additional government resources. Please take a moment to review this guide and share with family and friends. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your local Better Business Bureau.
If you hire an uninsured and unlicensed contractor and a serious injury were to occur to the contractor, you, as the person that hired them, could potentially be liable for paying the workers compensation benefits. This could turn a simple $1,000 repair into a bill for tens of thousands more. In addition, a neighboring property, a passerby or other property that is negligently damaged by an unlicensed contractor can become a liability to the person that hired the contractor. Start With Trust. For reliable information, lists of BBB Accredited Businesses by industry and BBB Business Profiles you can trust on local businesses, visit BBB.org.
To stay alert and avoid falling for scams, read BBB.org/ScamTips. Stay one step ahead of scammers by subscribing to BBB's weekly Scam Alert emails.
If you’ve been the victim of a phishing scam like this one, report it on the BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others protect themselves from similar scheme
Always visit BBB.org to check the reliability of any company before doing business. There you can also find a free list of BBB Accredited companies committed to ethical business practices.
Most of all, stay safe!
