FARGO — The North Dakota Insurance Department says to be careful hiring contractors for home repairs following the recent summer storms.
They say “storm chasers” could be traveling through the state looking to scam homeowners by pretending to be contractors.
“I really encourage folks to take a minute, take a beat, take a breath,” Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said. “You can always give us a call at the Insurance Department.”
He said these kind of scams result in everyone paying more for insurance. However, knowing the common signs of contractor scams can protect you from them.
Those signs include, asking for payment up front, being pressured to sign contracts quickly and being told to transfer your insurance claims rights over to a third party. Godfread said the biggest red flag is when someone approaches you instead of you contacting them.
He says the best way to protect yourself from being a victim of contractor fraud is by asking to see their contractor or adjusters license.
“All contractors and public adjusters must be licensed in the state of North Dakota, and they should be able to present that credentialing on demand,” Godfread said.
The North Dakota Insurance Department says in 2023 insurance companies lost almost $6 million to fraud.
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Publish date : 2024-08-06 13:00:00
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