My 84-year-old father-in-law got a call from someone saying they were in his neighborhood, which was evacuated because of the fire. They asked if he needed construction work done. Could this be a scam to get money upfront and then vanish? Or are they just seeing if he’s not home? So many people need to rebuild right now, and I’m worried scammers will take advantage of them. If anyone has stories about scams related to disasters like this, please share.
To anyone new here, watch out for scammers who might DM you saying they know someone who can help you recover money for a fee. Don’t trust private messages for advice—keep everything public so others can help spot scams. Also, remember not to share personal info like phone numbers or addresses here.
This happens all the time after disasters. A lot of these so-called contractors do terrible work and then overcharge insurance companies.
Masitsa said:
This happens all the time after disasters. A lot of these so-called contractors do terrible work and then overcharge insurance companies.
Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll make sure he knows how these scams work.
@WatchdogsA
He really needs to stop answering unknown calls. Maybe set his phone to only ring for numbers he knows.
Junita said:
@WatchdogsA
He really needs to stop answering unknown calls. Maybe set his phone to only ring for numbers he knows.
I think he’s lonely, so even when we tell him not to answer, he still does.
@WatchdogsA
That’s tough. Scammers definitely prey on loneliness.
Real contractors don’t go door-to-door or make cold calls. It’s definitely a scam.
TopCop said:
Real contractors don’t go door-to-door or make cold calls. It’s definitely a scam.
Good point. I imagine legit contractors are booked solid right now.
You really need to teach him to ignore calls from numbers he doesn’t recognize. That’s just how things are now.
renny said:
You really need to teach him to ignore calls from numbers he doesn’t recognize. That’s just how things are now.
I keep telling him, but he’s old school and thinks it might be important, like a doctor’s call.
@WatchdogsA
Does he have voicemail or caller ID? You could also get him a service that announces the caller before he picks up. I let all unknown calls go to voicemail now—it’s not worth the hassle.
SavvyGenX said:
@WatchdogsA
Does he have voicemail or caller ID? You could also get him a service that announces the caller before he picks up. I let all unknown calls go to voicemail now—it’s not worth the hassle.
That’s a good idea. Also, separating his personal and financial contacts on different devices or email accounts can help him stay safer.
@WatchdogsA
Tell him any important call, like from a doctor, will leave a message. It’s safer to let unknown calls go to voicemail.
If a contractor has to cold-call people for work, they probably don’t have a good reputation.
This always happens after disasters. Scammers swoop in fast. Tell him not to trust random calls offering help.
ScamVictimSupport1 said:
This always happens after disasters. Scammers swoop in fast. Tell him not to trust random calls offering help.
Thanks for the advice. I’ll make sure he’s prepared. My parents lost their home, so I’m bracing for these vultures to show up.
@WatchdogsA
I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s heartbreaking.
Local officials are cracking down on disaster scammers. You can report them to authorities if you suspect anything shady. It’s worth looking into.
Declan said:
Local officials are cracking down on disaster scammers. You can report them to authorities if you suspect anything shady. It’s worth looking into.
Thanks. I didn’t realize reporting could help. Hopefully, these scammers get caught and punished.