ORLANDO,Fla. – March is Fraud prevention month and the Florida Division of Financial Services has a list of ongoing scams just released this week. The schemes range from identity theft to the "Home Improvement Scam."
According to state investigators the home improvement scam starts with a knock at the door and a great deal from a roofer who "can spot missing shingles on your roof."
The other scam involves a guy who has extra asphalt from another job that allows him to give you a "great deal on driveway resealing."
The contractor scam that has insurance fraud detectives on high alert are the unlicensed, uninsured companies. According to Detective Jan Cary of the state's Insurance Fraud Division, "hundreds" of unlicensed contractors are preying on homeowners in plain sight.
Advertisements on line including Angie's List may claim the company is insured but that's not always true. The financial fallout is stunning. Cary says an injury on location could wipe out a consumer. "They can file on your home owners insurance to be covered for that injury," Cary says.
Cary says many of the companies are small two man operations. Sometimes they present insurance information stolen from a legitimate company.
To be sure the company you are working with is legitimate you can call the Orlando Insurance Fraud division at 407-835-4402 or check the Florida Workers Comp Data Base on line.
Remember if it's too good to be true, it usually is.