A press release from McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally:
STATE’S ATTORNEY WARNS FLOOD VICTIMS OF SCAMS
McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally is urging flood victims to beware of scams.
Often adisaster brings opportunities for criminals to pose as contractors, government workers, and insurance adjusters or imitate a charity to collect money claiming to be donations for the flood victims.
Please remember the following tips:
- Be wary of door-to-door and phone solicitations.
- Always ask for identification.
- Get multiple quotes for repairs, and don’t be rushed into a deal.
- Consider recommendations from people you know and trust and ask repair companies for
referrals of local jobs they have completed. Follow up with those referrals. - Contact your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for feedback on repair
companies. - Ask for licenses for insurance adjusters and roofers which can be verified on the Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s website and public adjusters which can be
verified by calling the Department of Insurance. - Be cautious of companies charging to assist with insurance claim processing.
- Get all of the terms of a contract in writing, and obtain a copy of the signed contract. The Illinois
Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires contractors to provide customers with written
contracts for any repair or remodeling work costing more than $1,000. - Consider hiring an attorney to review the contract, if necessary.
- Never make full payment until all the work has been completed to your satisfaction and consider having the work inspected prior to making final payment.
Visit the County’s official flood website at https://www.co.mchenry.il.us/county-government/floodheadquarters for additional information and resources.
The Illinois Attorney General also has a Consumer Fraud Hotline at (800) 386-5438. Finally, report any suspicious companies or individuals to your local law enforcement agency.
They are called storm chasers and they purport to be experts at dealing with insurance companies.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2017_03/20170301b.html
Some are regional, meaning if there’s a big storm in St. Louis, they’ll be there.
If there’s a big storm in Lake County, they’ll be there.
etc.