SAN DIEGO–A formation of a Wild Fire Task Force comprised of investigators will fan out over fire ravaged areas today and Tuesday to warn homeowners to beware of would-be criminals who prey on victims of natural disasters, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said Monday.
Investigators from the District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Insurance, the Contractors State License Board, and the Department of Motor Vehicles will disseminate literature and speak with residents about fraud prevention and post signs warning unlicensed contractors that operating in a declared state of emergency area is a felony. A similar effort took place during the 2003 and 2007 wildfires.
“We’re joining forces to make sure people affected by the fires aren’t re-victimized,” DA Dumanis said.
“The sooner we warn residents about would-be-scammers, the less likelihood there is that people will be duped.”
During states of emergency, it is illegal for businesses to increase prices of essential goods and services by more than 10 percent. That applies to food, goods or services used for emergency cleanup, medical supplies, home heating oil, building materials, housing, transportation and gasoline. In addition, it is a misdemeanor for a hotel or motel to increase regular rates.”
Looting during states of emergency automatically becomes a felony, which can be punishable by three years in prison.
“Families should be extremely cautious if approached by aggressive agents, adjusters or contractors after a disaster,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “While the majority of businesses are honest and have good intentions, unfortunately there are always bad actors waiting to take advantage of disaster victims.”
Working as an unlicensed contractor during a state of emergency is a felony. Anyone considering repair work should ask for proof of licensing such as a pocket license and a second photo ID. Always verify the license number matches the contractor you are dealing with and beware of scare tactics, odd calls or unsolicited contacts. Make sure the contractor carries workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
“Take the time to protect yourself against con artists who will take your money and run – or incompetent contractors who will perform shoddy work,” said Contractors State License Board Registrar Steve Sands. “Hire only licensed contractors and check their qualifications with the CSLB.”
In the aftermath of natural disasters, debris-clearing scams often surface. Do not provide payment upfront and be sure to ask where the debris is being taken. Scammers often ask for money up-front, and then disappear. Sometimes they dump debris on a neighbor’s property or park, which may cause you to be responsible for the costs and penalties.
The following telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are provided to assist you in obtaining further information or reporting suspicious activities:
San Diego District Attorney’s Office Insurance Fraud Hotline 330 West Broadway, Suite 700 San Diego, CA 92101 www.sandiegoda.com Telephone 1-800-315-7672
California Department of Insurance 10021 Willow Creek Road, #100 San Diego, CA 92131 Helpline 1-800-927-HELP (4357)
Contractors State License Board 9246 Lightwave Avenue, Suite 130 San Diego, CA 92123 www.clsb.ca.gov 1-800-321-2752.
