Would You Spot a Storm Scammer?
Five questions. Two minutes. Find out if a dishonest contractor could fool you.
A contractor shows up at your door the day after a bad storm and offers to inspect your roof for free. What do you do?
- Let them inspect — it's free — This is the most common entry point for fraud. The NICB warns that door-to-door solicitation is one of the top tactics dishonest contractors use after disasters. Unsolicited offers should always be treated with caution.
- Ask for their license and references first — Smart move. The NICB recommends verifying an active local business license and asking for references before allowing any contractor on your property.
- Take their card but call your insurance first — Good instinct. The NICB's top tip is to call your insurance company before accepting any unsolicited offer — your carrier can help confirm whether a contractor is legitimate.
A contractor says they're 'FEMA-approved' and can get your claim processed faster if you pay a deposit upfront. What do you do?
- Pay the deposit — FEMA backing sounds official — This is a known scam script. The NICB's David Glawe specifically warns: 'These individuals may say they work for FEMA or they're approved by FEMA. They'll ask you to pay money up front.' Do not pay.
- Decline and report them to your insurer — Exactly right. The NICB says to call your insurance company to verify legitimacy before paying anything. Fraud can also be reported at NICB.org.
- Ask for paperwork proving the FEMA connection — A reasonable step, but the NICB warns these individuals can be persuasive. The safest move is to contact your insurance carrier directly rather than taking any contractor's word for it.
A contractor gives you an estimate and says they can start immediately if you sign today. You haven't gotten other bids. Do you sign?
- Yes — speed matters after storm damage — Pressure to decide quickly is a red flag. The NICB recommends getting multiple estimates before committing to any contractor — legitimate businesses won't demand you skip that step.
- No — I get at least two or three more bids first — Correct. Getting multiple estimates is one of the NICB's top recommendations when hiring a contractor after a disaster. It protects you from inflated pricing and exposes bad actors.
- I ask if they'll hold the price for a few days — Better than signing immediately. The NICB is clear that slowing down is the most important step — your home will not be rebuilt overnight, and there is a process to follow with your insurance carrier.
A contractor reviews your insurance documents and says your policy covers more than your adjuster told you — and offers to negotiate with your insurer on your behalf. How do you respond?
- Let them — they seem to know what they're doing — The NICB specifically warns homeowners not to let a contractor interpret their policy or discourage them from contacting their insurance provider directly. This tactic is used to drive up fraudulent claims.
- Thank them but call my insurance company directly — Exactly the right call. Your insurance carrier is your most reliable resource for understanding your coverage. The NICB says your insurer can help confirm legitimate businesses and guide you through the process.
- Ask them to put their interpretation in writing — Getting things in writing is always wise, but it doesn't protect you here. The NICB's warning is clear: do not let a contractor interpret your policy. Contact your insurer directly.
You receive a text from an unknown number with a contractor's offer after a storm. They say spots are limited and you need to respond today. What do you do?
- Respond — I don't want to miss out — Artificial urgency is a hallmark of fraud. The NICB warns that scammers use texts, calls, and emails alongside door-to-door visits. 'Slow down' is the NICB's top guidance when any unsolicited offer appears.
- Ignore it — unsolicited texts are a red flag — Correct. The NICB's David Glawe warns that contractor fraud happens through phone calls, emails, and texts, not just in person. Unsolicited outreach after a storm is a primary scammer tactic.
- Ask who referred them before deciding — Asking questions is better than acting immediately. But the NICB recommends verifying contractors through your insurance carrier — not through the contractor's own referral chain.
When tornadoes and damaging winds tore through parts of the Midwest, including areas near Cleveland, the images were jarring. Cleveland-area resident Daryl Baker described seeing storm damage up close: 'It's amazing. You see these on TV all the time, but when they're in your front yard, it looks a little different.' That disorientation — the shock of suddenly living inside a news story — is exactly what dishonest contractors exploit.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau tracks how fraud follows catastrophe. Criminal organizations don't wait — they mobilize with the same speed as legitimate recovery crews, only their goal is your wallet, not your roof. NICB president and CEO David Glawe put it plainly: 'Criminal organizations are targeting victims of catastrophic events. They're being victimized twice. They're being victims of a crime and they've been a victim of a natural disaster.'
Criminal organizations are targeting victims of catastrophic events. They're being victimized twice. They're being victims of a crime and they've been a victim of a natural disaster.David Glawe, NICB president and CEO
What's True and What Scammers Want You to Believe
Contractors who claim to be 'FEMA-approved' have special authority to speed up your claim.
Verdict: false
The NICB specifically warns that scammers use FEMA's name to appear legitimate. Glawe cautions: 'These individuals may say they work for FEMA or they're approved by FEMA. They'll ask you to pay money up front.' FEMA does not endorse or approve private contractors.
Paying a deposit upfront to a storm contractor is standard practice.
Verdict: mostly false
The NICB warns that asking for upfront payment is one of the key tactics used by fraudulent contractors. Legitimate contractors work through a documented process with your insurance carrier.
If a contractor knocks on your door after a storm, they must have been doing legitimate work in the area.
Verdict: false
Door-to-door solicitation is one of the primary tactics the NICB flags as a fraud warning sign. Glawe specifically names it alongside telemarketers calling, emailing, and texting disaster victims.
Your insurance company can help you verify whether a contractor is legitimate.
Verdict: true
The NICB's top recommendation is to call your insurance company before accepting any unsolicited offer. Your carrier can help confirm legitimate businesses and guide you through the proper recovery process.
The tactics are not subtle once you know what to look for. According to Glawe, dishonest contractors operate through door-to-door visits, unsolicited phone calls, texts, and emails — all designed to catch homeowners in a moment of stress and urgency. They may offer to clean up yard debris, inspect your roof, or rebuild your home, presenting themselves as a solution at the exact moment you feel most overwhelmed.
What makes this especially dangerous: scammers actively work to separate you from your insurance company. The NICB warns that fraudulent contractors may try to interpret your policy on your behalf or discourage you from contacting your insurer — because your insurer is the person most likely to expose them.
How to Hire a Contractor Safely After a Storm
- Slow down — resist urgency — The NICB's top guidance is simply to slow down. Any contractor pressuring you to decide immediately is a red flag. Your home will not be rebuilt overnight.
- Call your insurance company first — Before accepting any unsolicited offer, contact your insurance carrier. They can help verify whether a contractor is legitimate and walk you through the proper claims process.
- Get multiple estimates — The NICB recommends collecting several bids before committing to any single contractor. This protects you from inflated pricing and exposes bad actors who can't compete on merit.
- Ask for references — Request references from past customers and follow up on them. Legitimate contractors have a history of work they're willing to stand behind.
- Verify an active local business license — The NICB specifically recommends confirming that any contractor holds an active, local business license before signing anything. Out-of-state storm chasers often cannot provide this.
- Be wary of anyone claiming to be with a national carrier — The NICB flags callers claiming to represent a national carrier as a known warning sign. Verify independently through your insurance company's official phone number.
The scale of the fraud problem reveals how organized it has become. These are not isolated opportunists — the NICB's David Glawe refers to 'criminal organizations,' not individual bad actors. With reports rising 38% between 2023 and 2025, the fraud pipeline has grown alongside the frequency and severity of storms hitting communities like those across the Midwest and Northeast Ohio.
Glawe's message to anyone navigating storm damage recovery is direct: 'Your home will not be rebuilt overnight. There's going to be a process working with the insurance carrier and online services to make sure these are legitimate contracts.' The pressure to act fast after a disaster is real — but it is also the fraudster's most powerful tool against you.
Legitimate Contractor vs. Storm Scammer: Side by Side
| Legitimate Contractor | Storm Scammer | |
|---|---|---|
| How they find you | Referral, online search, insurer recommendation | Unsolicited knock, cold call, text, or email |
| License | Active local business license, verifiable | Cannot produce one or provides unverifiable paperwork |
| Payment timing | Works through insurance process, staged payments | Asks for money upfront before work begins |
| FEMA claims | Does not claim special FEMA approval | Claims to be FEMA-approved or FEMA-affiliated |
| Your insurance company | Encourages you to loop in your insurer | Discourages contact with your insurance carrier |
| Timeline pressure | Acknowledges recovery takes time | Demands you sign today or lose the offer |
| References | Provides verifiable references willingly | Deflects, rushes past, or cannot provide references |
Think You've Been Targeted? Here's What To Do
- Report Fraud to the NICB: The National Insurance Crime Bureau accepts fraud reports directly. If you suspect a contractor is operating dishonestly after a disaster, report it at NICB.org.
- Call Your Insurance Carrier First: Before signing any contract or paying any money, contact your insurance company using the number on your policy card — not a number a contractor gives you.
- Get Everything in Writing: Never agree to work verbally. Legitimate contractors will provide written estimates, timelines, and contract terms before any work begins.
- Verify the Business License: The NICB recommends confirming an active local business license for any contractor before work begins. Your city or county clerk's office can verify this.
About the NICB and How It Tracks Fraud
The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a non-profit organization that tracks and investigates insurance fraud on behalf of insurers and policyholders. It works with law enforcement and industry partners to document patterns in fraud — including the surge in contractor fraud following natural disasters.
The NICB's data showing a 38% rise in contractor fraud reports between 2023 and 2025 comes from claims and complaint data aggregated across its member insurers. The bureau also documented that in 2021, insurers paid $92 billion in catastrophe losses nationwide, with upwards of 10% — approximately $9.2 billion — estimated to have been lost to post-disaster fraud.
Fraud tips can be submitted directly through the bureau's website at NICB.org.
Sources & References
- Primary source: news — Emily Hanford-Ostmann
- National Insurance Crime Bureau — 38% rise in contractor fraud reports from 2023 to 2025; $92 billion in catastrophe losses in 2021 with 10% lost to post-disaster fraud