NICB Warns Central North Carolina About Potential Contractor Fraud After Tropical Storm Chantal
NICB agents are currently coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as NICB member insurance companies, to aid in the recovery process and support residents in preventing fraud. As first responder efforts subside, NICB agents will deploy in the region to assist our partners in combating any fraud that arises as the rebuilding process begins.
'North Carolina has declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Chantal,' said Bill Woolf, Mid-Atlantic regional director, NICB. 'As the conditions begin to improve, it is crucial for residents to be mindful that some contractors may promise help, ask for the assignment of benefits, and after being paid, disappear, never to be heard from again. Knowing the warning signs of potentially untrustworthy contractors can protect vulnerable citizens and deter this type of crime.'
Fraud schemes may come from companies or individuals promising debris and tree removal, home construction and medical services. NICB urges affected residents to do their due diligence, check in with their insurance carrier and verify the credentials of anyone they plan to hire for a service.
Common red flags include high-pressure sales tactics via door-to-door solicitation, online or by phone. Additionally, pushing residents to sign contracts on the spot – often with multiple blank spaces in them – demanding payment upfront, and even requiring an Assignment of Benefits agreement which transfers insurance rights to the contractor can be signals to double check credentials and credibility.
NICB offers consumers a free downloadable contractor checklist available via this link: https://www.nicb.org/media/2509/download/. Other best practices include:
Before a disaster
Understand what's covered in your insurance policy
Get a list of reputable contractors from your insurance carrier
After a disaster
Don't succumb to pressure from a contractor
Be wary of door-to-door contractors
Call your carrier or BBB to verify contractor
Get multiple bids for work
Never pay cash up front
Never accept a verbal agreement
Additional resources and information about hiring reputable contractors can be found by visiting NICB.org. Or, to report potential fraud call NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB.
About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit NICB.org.
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