After Natural Disasters, Scams Surge: How to Stay Safe

Swift Summary

• After natural disasters like floods, wildfires, or hurricanes, individuals frequently enough face choices regarding home repairs and contractors.
• Tips to avoid contractor scams include vetting how you found them, checking their licensing status, evaluating their insurance compatibility, obtaining detailed cost estimates prior to work initiation, and securing multiple bids.
• Be cautious of upfront payment demands and verify online reviews through platforms such as Yelp and the better Business Bureau. Conduct searches with keywords like “scam” or “complaint.”
• ensure you understand permitting responsibilities before construction starts and confirm all subcontractors are paid before final payment is made for completed work.
• Fraud concerns can be reported to FEMA’s Disaster Fraud Hotline (866-720-5721) or emailed to StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov.

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Indian Opinion Analysis
Natural disasters can take a heavy toll on individuals globally as well as locally in India-where many states frequently endure extreme weather events such as monsoon flooding or cyclones. The problem of predatory contractor practices noted in this article aligns with vulnerabilities present in disaster-hit regions worldwide, including rural parts of India where regulations might be less stringent than urban centers.

This advisory highlights the importance of ensuring regulatory safeguards like mandatory licensing for contractors-a practice that could serve India’s urbanizing tier-II cities especially well amid rapid growth and infrastructure challenges post-disaster scenarios.

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