Here's how to avoid contractor fraud, scammers in Louisiana after Hurricane Francine

NOLA.com, By Poet Wolfe, September 20, 2024

Authorities are warning residents to stay wary of contractor scams as they begin to repair damages caused by Hurricane Francine, which tore through southeast Louisiana last week.

Predatory contractors and companies frequently target homeowners who were victims of natural disasters to get money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft, the Federal Emergency Management Agency wrote in a statement Thursday. Some cases involve thieves applying for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers taken from victims.

Fraudulent contractors have targeted Louisiana residents numerous times over the last several years. The United States Attorney's Office said that over 1,200 complaints for fraudulent cases were reported in Baton Rouge in 2016 after historic floods devastated south Louisiana.

Read more.