Connecticut residents to be wary of storm-related scams
March 17th, 2010 joshua
Local police in Connecticut are warning residents to beware of storm-related scams.
According to an NBC affiliate in Connecticut, police departments around the state are warning residents to be wary of contractors or other imposter professionals offering to complete services in the wake of the massive wind and rain storm over the past weekend.
More than five inches of rain and near-hurricane-strength winds combined to kill at least two people in Connecticut and knocked-out power to hundreds of thousands of people in the Northeast.
As is typical following natural or man-made disasters, a criminal element usually lay in its wake. Police advise residents to rely on known contractors to complete any work on their property, such as to their homes or to remove storm debris.
If residents must go outside their trusted circle of those service professionals, they should seek identification and some credentials from those offering to do the work.
People following disasters are more likely to pay more for services like debris removal, or to fix property damage. All contractors should have insurance and state licensing information on-hand when offering to do work.
Consumers should contact the local police department or the state’s Department of Consumer Protection before fully entering into a contract if they have any doubts on the legitimacy of a contractor.
