Residents Warned to Beware of Fraud and Scams After Hurricane Helene

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2024) - Hillsborough County is warning residents to beware of fraud and scams after Hurricane Helene. Following a disaster, qualified contractors are usually in high demand and booked up for months. Scammers or unqualified out-of-state workers may flood in to take advantage of Floridians in need of expert service.

The Florida Department of Financial Services is warning residents not to succumb to high pressure sales from people who show up at your doorstep wanting to help. This includes not conducting any business by paying cash and not signing any paperwork from unqualified workers. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Your first call should be to your insurance agent, insurance carrier or The Florida Department of Financial Services at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

If property is damaged from the storm, the Florida Attorney General’s Office offers these tips when hiring a contractor:

• Insurance evaluation - Ensure repair work will be covered under your insurance policy. Have an insurance company evaluate damage before arranging repairs.
• Estimates – Obtain at least three written, itemized estimates on bids or repairs
• Bogus offers - Watch out for unsolicited offers or contractors claiming to perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job
• Do your research – To check on a company’s reputation, look for references online or ask a friend. Also check to see if a company is properly licensed, insured, and if there are any consumer complaints filed against a licensed contractor at MyFloridaLicense.com or by calling the Florida Attorney General’s Office at (866) 9NO-SCAM.
• Bonded - Make sure a contractor is bonded and verified with a bonding agency
• Read the fine print – Although it may be daunting, read the entire contract before signing to ensure it includes the required buyer’s right to cancel language. Understand penalties that may be imposed for cancellation.
• Liens - Insist on releases of any liens that could be placed on the property from all subcontractors prior to making final payments. Homeowners may unknowingly have liens placed against their properties by suppliers or subcontractors who have not been paid by the contractor. If the contractor fails to pay them, the liens will remain on the title.
• Deposits and final payment - Never pay the full amount of a repair expense upfront and be wary before providing large deposits. Do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until satisfied with the work performed.

Individuals and businesses looking to contribute to storm relief efforts should be cautious of imposter GoFundMe style crowdfunding websites and charity scams. Hillsborough County residents can donate to the Hillsborough County Disaster Relief Fund or Florida Disaster Fund.

The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to avoid charity scams:

• Don’t rush – Take your time, don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation
• Beware of Thank You’s - Some scammers try to trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation that you never made
• Fake caller ID numbers - Scammers can change caller ID numbers to make a call look like it’s from a local area code
• Use credit cards or checks - If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it. To be safer, pay by credit card or check.
• Keep good records - It’s a good practice to keep a record of all donations and review your statements closely to make sure you’re only charged the amount you agreed to donate – and that you’re not signed up to make a recurring donation
• Know the recipient - Before clicking on a link to donate online, make sure you know who is receiving your donation. Read Donating Through Crowdfunding, Social Media, and Fundraising Platforms for more information.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency gives the following tips to avoid scams, protect your identity and stay informed:

• No fees - FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Small Business Administration and other federal agencies will never charge you for disaster assistance.
• Identification - Always ask to see identification. FEMA personnel will always have an official ID badge. Do not offer any personal information unless you are speaking with a verified FEMA representative.
• Trusted sources - Stay tuned to trusted local media for updates from your local officials on disaster fraud and scams.
• FEMA - Contact FEMA’s Investigations and Inspections Division by email at StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov or call (866) 223-0814 or by mail at 400 C Street SW, Suite 7SW-1009, Mail Stop 3005, Washington, D.C., 20472-3005.
• Consumer protection - Contact your state consumer protection offices.
• Report misconduct - Report corruption, fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct to DHS Office of the Inspector General or file a complaint with the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
• Identity theft - Visit IdentityTheft.gov to report and recover from identify theft.

Form to Self-Report Damage Will Launch Sept. 28

The self-reporting form for residents and nonprofit organizations who sustained property damage during Hurricane Helene will be available at HCFL.gov/DamageAssessment on Saturday, Sept. 28. This form helps Hillsborough County evaluate the scope of damage to property in the area. Residents and nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship and agricultural/aquacultural entities, are encouraged to complete the form.

Get Connected. Stay Alert.  

Make sure to have a plan. Residents and visitors are encouraged to register for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's official public notification system for emergency and urgent alerts. To receive messages by email, phone, and text, go to HCFL.gov/StaySafe. Residents without digital access are encouraged to call (833) HC STORM or (833) 427-8676, the County's storm information line, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.