What to watch out for following a disaster related to your home:
If the home repair is disaster related, be sure to stay away from anybody who:
¨ Claims to be FEMA certified.
8 FEMA does not certify general contractors in any state!
¨ Lacks proper identification.
8 A FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not proof of someone's affiliation with an agency. Ask to see a photo identification card; if they don't have it, they are probably not legitimate.
¨ Goes door-to-door.
8 Persons going door-to-door to damaged homes, or phoning victims and claiming to be building contractors, could be frauds. If callers solicit personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers, they are not legitimate.
¨ Charge fees to put customers on a list or to fill out forms.
8 FEMA registers all applicants without charge and has experts at Disaster Recovery Centers and through the toll-free registration line 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired to assist with forms and to explain the many available assistance and loan programs.
¨ Offer to increase the amount of your disaster damage assessment.
8 This is not wise and is a sure sign of a scam.
¨ Ask for cash upfront.
8 Under no circumstances are FEMA and other agency representatives allowed to accept money. FEMA inspectors assess damage but do not hire or endorse specific contractors.
** All FEMA information is courtesy of the following website: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41633