Fraudulent Charities

Unfortunately, thieves sometimes will take advantage of natural disasters such as the recent floods.

Here is what you can do to avoid being the victim of a solicitation by a fake charity:

• Ask the caller to identify the name of the charity. The caller is soliciting on behalf of a charity, he should be able to identify that charity and identify himself as a paid solicitor.
• Ask for everything in writing. A legitimate charity will send you information through the mail.
• Never give out personal information over the phone. Social security numbers or bank account numbers can be used to steal your identity.
• Check to make certain the charity is registered with the Charitable Trust Unit. Information is available on the Department of Justice website at www.doj.nh.gov, by clicking on the Charitable Trust link.

Contractor Scams

Unfortunately, thieves sometimes will take advantage of natural disasters such as the recent floods.

Here are some precautions you can take when hiring someone to make home repairs:

• Be cautious of anyone selling services door-to-door. Make sure the business has a physical street address and has a good reputation.
• Do not be pressured into a quick agreement or payment in cash. A reputable contractor will not try to force you into a deal you are not ready to make.
• Get it in writing. All estimates and contracts should be in writing, and clearly spell out the terms and conditions.
• Be a smart consumer. Find our as much as you can about the contractor, especially if they make unsolicited contact with you or have only become known to you after you become the victim of a natural disaster;
• Ask for proof that they are insured. The contractor should be able to produce written proof of insurance.
• Get references. Ask for names and locations of the most recent work done by the contractor. Follow-up on those references, and consider checking examples of work they have done.
• Report any problems of alleged fraud to the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau by calling the Consumer Hotline toll free at 1-888-468-4454, or by visiting the Bureau’s website at http://doj.nh.gov/consumer and filling out and returning a consumer complaint form.

Paving Scams

Unfortunately, thieves sometimes will take advantage of natural disasters such as the recent floods.

Here are some precautions to take to avoid being the target of a paving scam. The paving scam typically involves a man in a truck who approaches consumers in their yards, promising low estimates because of leftover materials from a completed job a few houses away or on a nearby highway project.

Some of the asphalt paving scam warning signs are:

• Door-to-door sales.
• The paver has asphalt from another job.
• The paver will push consumers to make a quick decision.
• No contract offered.
• Cash only sales.
• Unmarked trucks.