Beware the storm scammers
Published 8:17 pm Saturday, April 26, 2014
From the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
In the wake of the tornado in Beaufort County on April 25th, many residents are
beginning to cleanup and repair the extensive damage caused by the storm. Property owners are encouraged to be vigilant of potential scammers that try to trick victims into paying cash for substandard work or sometimes, no work at all.
To reduce the chances of being further victimized during this difficult time, property
owners can follow these tips:
be wary of “door to door” repair operations that come to you or call to solicit work
deal with an established company in your area
ask for references and call to confirm the contractor does good work
use businesses that are licensed and insured to do the type of repairs that are needed
be wary of contractors that demand cash or large deposits upfront
For more information property owners can visit the National Storm Damage Center website at http://stormdamagecenter.org. Residents should contact their local law enforcement agency as soon as possible if they believe they have been approached by or victimized by a scammer.