Storm chaser contractor scams pop up after every major storm, flood, or wildfire. Homeowners face pressure to make fast decisions. Scammers know that speed and stress make an easy target. This guide shows how to perform contractor license verification after disaster, how to check insurance, how to pay safely, which directories to trust, and how to report fraud. If you need urgent help from a licensed local team, contact Best Option Restoration of Travis County. Our phones are open 24 hours. Call 737 210 5140.
Why storm zones attract scammers
Communities hit by wind, hail, flood, or fire see a rush of unfamiliar crews. Some are real out of town contractors with credentials. Others are sales teams with no license, no insurance, and no plan to finish the work. Federal and state agencies warn about this pattern. FEMA explains that it does not certify or license contractors, so anyone claiming to be FEMA approved misleads you. See FEMA guidance on post disaster contractor fraud at FEMA does not certify contractors.
Scammers rely on door to door approaches, high pressure pitches, and quick payments that are hard to trace. The Federal Trade Commission has issued repeated alerts about these tactics, including warnings about payment types that offer no recourse for consumers. Read the FTC warning for disasters and weather events at FTC disaster scam warnings.
After a loss you may also deal with claims pressure, debris hazards, and water safety questions. Qualified local help matters for speed and quality. If you want a licensed restoration firm with transparent pricing and daily communication, our crew at Best Option Restoration of Travis County stands ready.
Red flags you can spot fast
Scam patterns repeat. Learn the signals, slow the process, and check on every claim a contractor makes. The following issues appear again and again in complaints to FEMA, the FTC, and the Better Business Bureau. BBB offers a consumer checklist for storm chasers at BBB storm chaser tips.
- Unsolicited door to door offers right after a storm, especially from people who will not provide a local business address or refuse to identify the owner of the business
- High pressure sales lines such as today only discounts or a claim that your price will double if you wait one day
- Requests to sign a blank work authorization or any document with missing scope, missing price, or vague payment timing
- Demands for cash, wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps that lack dispute rights. The FTC flags these as common scam payment methods. Review the FTC guidance at FTC payment warnings
- No license number on the proposal or vehicle, or a license that cannot be verified on your state board site
- Only verbal claims of insurance. No Certificate of Insurance provided. Refusal to let you verify coverage through the insurer
- Requests to sign over your insurance claim check or add the contractor as the only payee on funds you have yet to review
- Refusal to pull permits or claims that no permit applies for structural, electrical, gas, or roofing work
FEMA stresses that its staff will never collect fees for repairs. No FEMA worker will ask you to pay for inspection or contractor approval. Verify anyone claiming to be from FEMA by calling the FEMA helpline at 800 621 3362. Review the FEMA fact sheet at FEMA contractor fraud alert.
How to verify license and insurance
Contractor license verification after disaster is your best first filter. You can complete this check in minutes on a phone or laptop. Ask for proof before you sign or pay. Take a photo of the license number on the business card or proposal and confirm it on the official state database. In Texas you can use the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation search at TDLR license search. Other states maintain similar searchable portals through their licensing boards.
Ask for the license in writing
Ask for the contractor license number in writing on company letterhead or the bid. Ask for the legal name that matches the license record. Ask for the name of the license holder if different from the salesperson on your property. A real company will hand this over with no pushback. If the person stalls or claims that storms broke the state website, pause the conversation.
Verify status on the state site
Open your state licensing portal and search by license number or business name. Confirm the status as active. Check the expiration date. Read any disciplinary record. For Texas homeowners, the TDLR search page linked above shows license types, expiration dates, and enforcement actions. If the trade is licensed by another board in your state, search there. Roofing has different rules by state. Electrical and plumbing are almost always licensed. If you do not see a listing, move on to another provider.
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance
A licensed contractor should provide a Certificate of Insurance, often called a COI. That document should list general liability coverage and, where required, workers compensation. Get the COI by email directly from the contractor then call the agent listed on the COI to verify it. Policy numbers get misprinted. COIs can be forged. An agent can confirm coverage limits and active dates for your project. Learn what a COI is and how it works at Investopedia COI overview.
Confirm bonding or surety if required
Some states or cities require a contractor bond. Ask for the bond number and the issuing surety. Call the surety to confirm status. A bonding requirement typically covers permit work or certain trades. Your city building office can tell you whether a bond applies for your project type.
Check reputation through trusted directories
Scan for BBB complaints and ratings, look for unresolved disputes, and ask for three local references from the last year. Contact the references. Ask about punctuality, site cleanup, and whether the final invoice matched the estimate. BBB keeps guidance for homeowners after storms at BBB guidance. You can also consult the National Insurance Crime Bureau for tips related to claims fraud at NICB disaster tips.
Loop in your insurer early
Bring your carrier or agent into the process before work begins. Ask about preferred vendor lists and documentation requirements for payment. Our team provides full scope write ups, moisture maps, and photos that match insurer needs. We also provide a policyholder rights resource on our service page. Visit our water damage restoration page for claim guidance and a policyholder rights sheet.
Payments and contracts that protect you
Fraudsters push for cash or instant transfers because those lack dispute rights. The FTC warns consumers to avoid wire transfers, gift cards, cash, cryptocurrency, and certain payment apps for repairs. Credit cards and checks tied to written contracts offer real protections. See the joint FTC and partner advisory at FTC payment protection advice.
Use a written contract for every project. Spell out the scope, materials, quantities, start date, estimated timeline, permit duties, change order process, and warranty. Include a clear payment schedule tied to visible milestones. Examples include mobilization, tear out complete, dry out complete, rough in complete, and final walkthrough. Never sign a blank document or any paper with missing details. Keep a full copy signed by all parties.
Ask for a lien waiver with each progress payment. A conditional waiver applies when you issue a payment. An unconditional waiver follows when a payment clears. This protects you from surprise liens by unpaid subs or suppliers. Your contractor should be comfortable with this process. Many states have standard lien waiver templates on official sites.
Never sign your insurance check over to a contractor. Tell the contractor that all payments will flow based on the written schedule after work reaches each milestone. BBB flags requests to sign over checks as a common scam tactic. Read BBB guidance at BBB storm repair advice.
If you need financing, avoid any pressure to use a lender presented by a door to door salesperson without research. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has guidance on avoiding loan scams after disasters at CFPB disaster finance tips.
Use trusted directories and referrals
Start with your insurer or agent. Ask for local contractors they have paid for similar work within the last year. Then check the contractor license online. Confirm the name of the owner of the business. Review BBB profiles. Ask neighbors who had work done long before the storm. Seek references from jobs completed in your zip code during the past twelve months.
For specialized services, narrow the list. Fire, smoke, mold, and water claims require different gear and training than roof tear off or siding replacement. If your loss includes belongings that need cleaning or deodorizing, look for a contents team with secure storage, inventory software, and fabric restoration resources. See our content restoration services for the process we use for textiles, electronics, documents, and keepsakes.
After floodwater intrudes on a property with a private well or onsite wastewater system, hire a qualified water professional. We maintain detailed homeowner guides that explain when to call a licensed well contractor and how to test safely. Read how to test and disinfect private wells after a flood. For deeper water and septic information, see well water testing after floods. Your county health office can also point you to certified labs.
For debris that includes chemicals, paints, batteries, or suspect asbestos, hire licensed handlers. Illegal dumping brings fines and can harm your family. We cover this topic in our homeowner guide on hazardous waste disposal after a disaster.
Document everything from day one
Strong documentation gives you leverage with insurers, banks, and law enforcement. It also helps an honest contractor succeed for you. Start a folder on your phone and a second one in the cloud. Create a paper folder for contracts and receipts. Use consistent file names by date so you can locate what you need quickly. Photograph every room before work begins. Add wide shots and close ups. Capture serial numbers on appliances. Keep a written inventory of damaged contents.
Request a written estimate with line items. Ask for product data sheets for any antimicrobial used during mitigation. Photograph license plates and company vehicles parked at your home. Save screenshots of license verifications, BBB profiles, and COI emails. Keep a log of every conversation with dates and the full name of the person you spoke with. If a worker asks for a change in payment method, note the request, ask for a written explanation, and inform your insurer.
For water losses, moisture readings and dry logs matter. A qualified restoration team will create a moisture map, record daily readings, and document removal of baseboards, drywall, and flooring. We share these logs with insurers as part of our normal process. Learn what to expect during mitigation on our water damage restoration page.
Report suspected fraud quickly
If you believe someone is trying to scam you on your doorstep, call local police. Use 911 for an active threat. For federal reporting, the Department of Justice runs the National Center for Disaster Fraud. You can submit a complaint on their site or call the hotline at 866 720 5721. Visit DOJ disaster fraud to file a report.
FEMA has a helpline to verify whether a person calling or visiting your property is a FEMA employee. Call 800 621 3362 to confirm. FEMA also shares tips for avoiding contractor fraud at FEMA contractor fraud tips.
Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or by phone at 1 877 FTC HELP. The FTC compiles patterns across states and can coordinate with other agencies. See the FTC page linked earlier for current alerts. If you live in Texas, you can also report to the Texas Attorney General consumer protection team. They maintain a page on disaster scams at Texas Attorney General disaster scams.
For insurance related concerns, contact your carrier. You can also consult the National Insurance Crime Bureau for tips and reporting links at NICB disaster resources. Keep copies of every complaint number. Add them to your documentation folder.
When to call local pros or specialists
Time matters for mitigation. Waiting weeks often adds cost. That does not mean you should rush payment or sign a contract without checks. It does mean you should call a proven local company that can stabilize the structure safely. Water removal, structural drying, smoke cleanup, and content pack out require training and correct equipment. Our team at Best Option Restoration of Travis County handles emergency drying, demolition, disinfection, odor removal, and content care. We photograph every step, keep daily logs, and communicate with your adjuster.
Call licensed specialists for electrical service restoration, gas line inspection, and structural framing. Do not allow anyone to reconnect gas or power without a qualified trade professional. For private wells that went underwater, do not drink the water until you get test results. Follow our step by step guidance to test and disinfect private wells. For septic systems affected by flood, see our advice on well water testing after floods. Where debris includes chemicals or unknown powders, engage trained hazardous waste handlers using the resource linked above.
Always ask for the license number and a COI from any specialist, then verify with the state board and insurer. Never waive permit requirements. Inspectors help protect you from poor work and unsafe connections.
FAQ for homeowners after storms
How can I check a contractor license
Ask for the license number in writing. Go to your state licensing board website. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active status and expiration date. Look for disciplinary notes. In Texas use the TDLR search at TDLR license search. If the trade is governed by a different board in your state, use that board site.
What payment methods should I avoid
Avoid cash, wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, and person to person payment apps that do not offer dispute rights for construction services. The FTC lists these as common scam payment types in disaster recovery. Use a credit card or check tied to a clear written contract with staged milestones. Read FTC warnings at the link in the payments section above.
Who do I call if someone claims to be from FEMA
FEMA does not certify contractors or collect fees for repairs. To verify a caller or visitor, contact the FEMA helpline at 800 621 3362. If you suspect fraud, call the DOJ National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866 720 5721 or use their complaint site at DOJ disaster fraud.
What should a post disaster contract include
Define scope in detail. List materials, quantities, and product grades. Include start date and timeline. Name permit duties and inspection steps. Spell out the payment schedule tied to milestones. Add warranty terms in writing. Include lien waiver requirements with each payment. Attach a copy of the COI. Insert the legal business name and license number that match the state record. Never sign a blank or vague document.
How do I verify a Certificate of Insurance
Ask for the COI with the contractor name that matches their license. Call the agent listed on the COI. Read the policy numbers and dates to the agent. Ask whether coverage is active and whether the policy includes the work you plan to perform. If the agent cannot confirm, do not proceed. Learn more about COIs at Investopedia.
Quick steps at your door
When a salesperson knocks after a storm, slow the process. Ask for a photo ID, a business card, and the license number. Take a photo of the card. Do not pay cash or wire money. Tell them you pay by credit card or check after signed milestones. Call your insurer and the state licensing board before signing any agreement. The FTC offers a short guide to avoiding scams after weather events at FTC consumer advice.
Final checklist and local help
Use this short list to protect your wallet during the first week after a loss.
- Gather three bids from contractors with a verified license and insurance
- Check the license on the state site and save a screenshot
- Request a COI and confirm with the agent
- Write a contract with scope, milestones, and a payment schedule
- Pay by credit card or check based on completed milestones
- Never sign over insurance checks
- Document work with photos and save all communications
- Report pressure tactics or fake IDs to local police, DOJ NCDF, FTC, and your state AG
If you want a local team that welcomes verification, provides clear documentation, and treats your home with care, call Best Option Restoration of Travis County. Get a fast estimate, schedule emergency service, or ask a question about your claim. Call 737 210 5140. For water losses visit our water damage restoration page where you can download a policyholder rights sheet. If your property relies on a private well, follow our guides to test and disinfect private wells and well water testing after floods. For contents care review our content restoration services. For debris with chemicals or unknown hazards, read our guide on hazardous waste disposal after a disaster.
Legal disclaimer. This article is general consumer guidance, not legal advice. Contract rules, license requirements, and complaint processes vary by state and city. For disputes you cannot resolve, contact your state attorney general, local consumer protection office, or a licensed attorney.