Tragedy seems to bring out the best in most people, but it also tends to conjure up scammers and fraudsters. Currently scams are targeting Camp Fire victims and those giving monetary donations.
It may be an old saw, but Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Ramsey said this is particularly true in rental housing scams. While they’re always prevalent, the Camp Fire disaster has brought an increased volume. Typically, what happens is a social media post advertises a vacant home or apartment, but the ad is fake, written by a scammer posing as the owner or broker.
Tip-offs include urgency, a refusal to meet at an office and an exceptionally reasonable rent.
“You may be left with a key, that certainly doesn’t open the house that you think it is going to open,” Ramsey said.
Contractors, or more accurately people posing as them, are also a frequent source of problems. Ramsey said the best protection is confirming their license either with the Contractors State License Board or by scrutinizing their so-called pocket license. Ramsey said regulations prohibit contractors from asking for up-front payments exceeding $1,000 or 10 percent of the bid, whichever is larger. If they insist on more that’s a real clue, Ramsey said.
“Say thank you, goodbye and report it to us,” he said.
Ramsey’s had similar warnings about fraudulent charities—ones hoping to cash in on people’s generosity.
He also warned about unscrupulous insurance expediters—people promising to speed up insurance company payouts for a fee. Contracts can force victims to surrender a percentage of their settlement, even if the so-called expediter did nothing. He said generally, be very cautious about divulging personal information.
To report suspected fraud call 866-DA-Fraud.