By Shae Rozzi, Fox23 News
We recently saw widespread hail and we’ve sadly seen deadly tornadoes wipe out homes. Spring severe weather season in Oklahoma is not over yet.
And if you end up with damage to your home, the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Oklahoma says the very first call should be your insurance company. Then look out for scammers posing as legitimate contractors knocking on your door.
“Unfortunately, Oklahoma is known to have Fly By Night contractors,” says Amie Mitchell, CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Oklahoma. “They come in when we have storm damage, and we have a lot of it, but there are a lot of really great local roofers here in town. So if you can find someone local, check their BBB profile, make sure that they’re handling their complaints and they have a great rating with us. And then go from there.”
Mitchell also says to be careful and look out for red flags that should give you pause.
“So some red flags right away are going to be a large upfront deposit. If they’re asking for a large upfront deposit, that’s typically a red flag. Make sure you get a contract. Also, make sure you have all of their contact information. Does their website have a way to get a hold of them if they leave the state?” she says.
Another post storm scam involves crowdfunding to help victims, like GofundMe. While friends and families do set up real accounts to help loved ones, the BBB says you should do a little homework before you donate.
Our news partners at FOX23 saw a similar warning from Oklahoma Highway Patrol following a trooper’s death in April. In a Facebook post, OHP said they’d been made aware of several GoFundMe accounts set up for Trooper Vernon Brake, who died in the line of duty.
They posted none of these accounts are official accounts then went on to explain how people could offer financial support.
You can also look at GoFundMe accounts and look for a verified status on the page. That means the trust and safety team verified the beneficiary’s identity and banking details. Getting back to needing a contractor, the BBB recommends making a list now of local businesses you may have to call on if you ever end up with storm damage like restoration companies, roofers and carpenters just to name a few.
