We are once again in the midst of hurricane season and it is very important to be prepared before a storm hits. However, if you or your loved ones experience damages after the storm, please remember that there will be individuals on the streets preying on folks who are in desperate need of assistance with one purpose only – to victimize them.

As your State Attorney, I am all too familiar with these types of crimes.  Over the years, my office has unfortunately had to arrest and charge many individuals, including unlicensed contractors, who have bilked homeowners of their insurance monies as a result of different scams.

After major hurricanes, my office receives hundreds of fraud-related complaints totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Major storms, such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992, have left us with many hard lessons learned, and criminal minds are always devising new ways to scam.  Don’t put your money or your home in the hands of unscrupulous individuals who will take advantage of you.  With sufficient preparation and valuable information, you can make the appropriate decisions necessary in order to achieve successful results.

Part of your hurricane preparedness plan should include vital information so that you can avoid becoming a victim of fraud if you require the services of a contractor or a specific repair specialist after a storm.  If you must hire a contractor that you are not familiar with, at least check out a few of them before you sign any work orders.  Follow some of the tips below when screening contractors:

• Request to see a copy of a current Certificate of Insurance so that you as the homeowner are not held responsible for any accidents that occur on your property during the work project.

• Get the names and phone numbers of various prior clients as references.

• Get written quotes from various contractors and compare the prices.

• Request a signed copy of the proposed contract detailing all of the work to be performed and method for payment.

• Request copies in writing of all warranties including their terms as well as identifying the person(s) or company responsible for any warranty work.

• Obtain a signed copy of the final contract.

• Don’t sign any final documentation indicating satisfaction with the work performed until you have verified that the work has in fact been completed to your specifications and as per the contract.

• Do not make the final payment unless the work is completely finished.

Always verify that the contractor, company, or repair specialist you are intending to hire is licensed to perform the work required.  You can check the status of the license at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Website at www.myfloridalicense.com.  It can help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud.







by Katherine Fernández Rundle
Miami-Dade State Attorney