How to Spot a Roofing Scam After a Hurricane or Major Storm
The first disaster is the storm. The second arrives within hours: contractors knocking on your door before you have finished assessing the damage. Home improvement scams were the fifth riskiest scam type in 2024, according to the BBB. After hurricanes and major storms, the scam volume surges. Here are the 10 red flags, the five most common scam types, the scammer timeline vs. what legitimate contractors actually do, and exactly what to do if you have already been targeted.
After every major storm, a wave of fraudulent and predatory roofing contractors descends on affected areas. They travel across state lines, set up temporary operations, and use high-pressure tactics to exploit homeowners' urgency and distress. The BBB classified home improvement scams as the fifth riskiest scam in 2024. FEMA explicitly warns: FEMA does not hire, endorse, or certify any private-sector contractor. Anyone claiming FEMA sent them is committing fraud. You typically have one to two years to file an insurance claim for storm damage — there is no reason to sign a contract the same day someone knocks on your door. This guide will show you how scammers operate, what separates them from legitimate contractors, and how to protect yourself and report fraud. Bookmark this page. Share it with your neighbors when the next storm hits.
The 10 Red Flags of a Post-Storm Roofing Scam
The Scammer Timeline vs. the Legitimate Contractor
Understanding the timing differences between fraudulent and legitimate contractors is one of the most reliable ways to identify a scam. Here is what each looks like after a major storm.
The Five Most Common Post-Storm Roofing Scams
The contractor promises to cover your insurance deductible — offering a "free roof" with no out-of-pocket cost. To recoup the deductible, they inflate the insurance claim, billing for more expensive materials or labor than actually used. This is insurance fraud — for both the contractor and you. The contractor gets paid; you get a substandard roof installed with cheap materials; and your insurance company raises premiums for everyone in your area.
The contractor asks you to sign a document transferring your insurance benefits directly to them. Once you sign an AOB, the contractor — not you — controls the insurance claim. They negotiate directly with your insurer, may inflate the claim, and can file lawsuits in your name. You lose control of the process and may be left with unresolved repairs while the contractor and insurer battle in court. Florida banned AOBs for property insurance policies effective January 1, 2023, after years of documented abuse.
The contractor collects a large upfront deposit — often 50% or more — promising materials will be ordered immediately and work will begin within days. Then they vanish. The phone number is disconnected, the address is a vacant lot, and the business entity (if one ever existed) is dissolved. This is the most straightforward form of theft and disproportionately targets elderly homeowners and people in severe distress after a storm.
Someone arrives at your door claiming FEMA sent them, that they are a "FEMA-certified contractor," or that FEMA is offering a special program that requires immediate action. FEMA does not hire, endorse, certify, or recommend any private contractor. FEMA inspectors verify damage — they never perform repairs, refer contractors, or ask for money. Some scammers even drive vehicles with "FEMA Certified Contractor" signage. Every aspect of this is fraudulent.
A contractor offers a "free inspection," climbs onto your roof, and then shows you photos of damage — damage that may not have been caused by the storm. In some documented cases, storm chasers have caused damage themselves during the inspection to fabricate a viable insurance claim. Once you file the claim based on their "findings," you are potentially complicit in insurance fraud, and the contractor controls the narrative.
What FEMA Actually Does (and Does Not Do)
Misinformation about FEMA's role is one of the primary tools scammers use to build false credibility. Here is what FEMA actually does and does not do after a disaster, directly from FEMA's own guidance.
FEMA does: Verify damage through inspections by credentialed inspectors who carry official FEMA photo ID. Provide disaster assistance grants directly to eligible homeowners. Offer referrals to SBA disaster loans for homeowners and businesses. Coordinate federal disaster response and recovery.
FEMA does not: Hire or endorse private contractors. Certify or license any contractor. Recommend specific contractors for repairs. Charge for any services, inspections, or assistance. Ask for bank account information, Social Security numbers, or financial information during unsolicited contact. Send contractors to your door.
If anyone claims to be from FEMA: Ask to see their official FEMA photo ID badge. A FEMA shirt or jacket is not proof of identity. If in doubt, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify. Report suspected impersonation to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.
Your Insurance Claim: The Correct Timeline
One of the most important things to understand after a storm is that you have time. Scammers create false urgency because urgency is their primary weapon. In reality, most homeowner insurance policies allow one to two years to file a storm damage claim. There is no reason to sign a contract the same day someone knocks on your door.
The Correct Sequence
Step 1: Document everything immediately. Before anyone touches your roof, photograph and video all visible damage from ground level. Photograph the surrounding property, fallen debris, and any water intrusion inside the home. Date-stamp everything.
Step 2: Contact your insurance company first. Report the damage and initiate a claim before hiring any contractor. Your insurer will send an adjuster to assess the damage independently. Do not allow any contractor to start permanent repairs until your insurance adjuster has documented the damage.
Step 3: Make only emergency temporary repairs. You are responsible for mitigating further damage — covering a hole with a tarp, for example. Keep receipts for all emergency materials. These costs are typically covered by your policy. Do not make permanent repairs until your insurer has assessed the damage.
Step 4: Get multiple written bids from vetted contractors. Once you know the scope of damage from your insurer's assessment, obtain at least three detailed written estimates from contractors you have independently researched and verified. Compare scope, materials, timeline, warranty, insurance, and payment schedule.
Step 5: Review everything before signing. You have time. Use the FTC's 3-day cooling-off period if you sign a contract at home after solicitation. In Florida, the cooling-off period extends to 10 days during a declared state of emergency under § 489.147. Read every document. Have someone you trust review it.
How to Vet a Contractor After a Storm
- Verify licensing. Check your state's licensing board database. In states without state licensing (like Texas), check for local city/county registration and voluntary credentials (RCAT in Texas). In licensed states (Florida DBPR, California CSLB, Arizona ROC), confirm an active license online.
- Demand proof of insurance. Request current certificates for general liability, workers' compensation, and auto insurance. Call the insurance carrier directly to confirm the policy is active and has not been cancelled. A contractor without workers' comp may leave you liable for injuries on your property.
- Confirm a permanent local address. Visit the office if possible. A physical office with signage, a local phone number, and verifiable years in the community is a strong indicator of legitimacy. A P.O. box, hotel room, or virtual address is a red flag.
- Check references from 2+ years ago. Ask for references from jobs completed at least two years prior. Anyone can provide references from last month. A contractor who has been in the community for years and can provide older references has a track record you can verify.
- Search public records. Check the BBB for complaints and ratings. Search the contractor's name and business name in your state's court records for lawsuits. Check the Secretary of State or Comptroller's website for business registration status.
- Get a detailed written contract. The contract should specify materials by brand and product line, include a detailed scope of work, define start and completion dates, outline the payment schedule tied to milestones, include warranty terms, and reference any required permit numbers.
- Never pay more than one-third upfront. A responsible payment schedule: one-third at signing, one-third at materials delivery, one-third upon completion and your inspection. Never pay the full amount before the work is finished.
- Pay by check or credit card. Documented payment methods create a paper trail. Credit cards provide chargeback rights if the contractor fails to perform. Never pay entirely in cash.
If You Have Already Been Scammed
If you have already signed a contract or paid a deposit to a contractor you now suspect is fraudulent, take these steps immediately.
Exercise your cancellation right. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule 16 CFR Part 429 gives you three business days to cancel any contract signed at your home (or away from the contractor's permanent place of business) for $25 or more. Florida extends this to 10 days during a state of emergency. Send your cancellation in writing via certified mail, return receipt requested. If the contractor failed to provide a Notice of Right to Cancel, your cancellation window has not started — you can cancel indefinitely until proper notice is given.
File a credit card chargeback. If you paid by credit card, contact your card issuer immediately and initiate a chargeback dispute. Explain that the contractor has not performed the contracted work or has committed fraud. The Fair Credit Billing Act provides protections for unauthorized or disputed charges.
Report everywhere. File complaints with every relevant agency. The more reports filed against a fraudulent contractor, the faster law enforcement can build a case and the more visible the pattern becomes to other potential victims.
State-Specific Protections to Know
Post-storm consumer protections vary significantly by state. Here are the most critical state-level laws that apply to storm-related roofing fraud.
Florida
Florida provides the strongest post-storm consumer protections in the nation — a direct response to the massive fraud that followed Hurricanes Irma, Michael, and Ian. The DBPR/CILB licenses all roofing contractors. Florida banned AOBs for property insurance policies effective January 1, 2023 under SB 2-A. Florida Statute § 489.147 provides a 10-day cooling-off period for roofing contracts during a declared state of emergency, and explicitly states that loading materials or tarping does not constitute "start of work." Deductible waivers are a felony of the third degree. Contractor advertising is restricted — contractors cannot solicit using rebates, gifts, or offers tied to insurance claims.
Texas
Texas does not license roofing contractors at the state level. The DTPA Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 17.41 is the primary consumer weapon — allowing treble damages for knowing deception. HB 2102 makes deductible waivers a criminal offense. Because there is no state license to revoke, post-storm scammers face fewer deterrents in Texas than in licensed states.
Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia, and Other Storm-Prone States
Most storm-prone states have some form of contractor licensing, cooling-off periods, and anti-solicitation laws. After any major storm, check your state AG's website for consumer alerts specific to the disaster. State AGs typically issue post-storm fraud warnings with state-specific filing instructions and hotline numbers.
Section 9Share This Guide When the Next Storm Hits
This guide is designed to be shared. The greatest protection against post-storm roofing scams is an informed community. When a hurricane, hailstorm, tornado, or major weather event hits your area, share this page with your neighbors, your neighborhood association, your local Nextdoor group, and your social media networks.
The scam playbook does not change from storm to storm. The contractors change names, they change trucks, they change states — but the tactics are the same. The more people who know the red flags before the knock comes, the fewer people who become victims.
Build the Public Record
Government agencies investigate patterns, not individual complaints. But patterns only become visible when individual victims file. If you have been scammed by a roofing contractor after a storm, a DisputeVoice Lighthouse Report puts your documented experience into the permanent public record — visible in search results when the next homeowner researches the same company before signing a contract.
Every Lighthouse Report is editorially reviewed, permanently published, and includes an open right of reply for the named company. Your experience protects someone else.
Related DisputeVoice Guides
Sources and Authorities Referenced
- FEMA — Disaster Fraud guidance (fema.gov/about/offices/security/disaster-fraud)
- FEMA — "FEMA does not hire or endorse specific contractors" (multiple press releases)
- FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline: 866-720-5721
- Better Business Bureau — Home improvement scams ranked #5 riskiest scam (2024)
- FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429)
- FTC — reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Florida SB 2-A (2022) — AOB ban, effective Jan. 1, 2023
- Florida Statute § 489.147 — 10-day roofing cancellation during emergency
- Florida Statute § 627.7152 — AOB reform (2019)
- Texas HB 2102 (2019) — Deductible waiver criminal penalties
- Texas DTPA (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 17.41 et seq.)
- National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) — Storm fraud warnings
- National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
- BBB Scam Tracker — bbb.org/scamtracker