Recuperación y reconstrucción

Fraude de contratistas y estafas

Cómo verificar que un contratista tenga licencia, las estafas que siguen a cada tornado, y dónde reportar precios abusivos y fraude.

1 lugar a dónde ir o llamar 1 abiertos ahora 4 cosas que debe saber

Lugares a dónde ir y personas a quién llamar

Verifique la licencia de un contratista en Wisconsin

Abierto

Búsqueda oficial gratuita. Toma dos minutos y es lo que mejor predice si lo van a estafar.

Gratis

Sitio web

Más información

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services maintains a public credential search. Enter the business or individual name and confirm the credential is real, current and not subject to discipline.

Most residential construction and remodeling in Wisconsin requires a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work require their own separate licenses — a general contractor is not automatically licensed for those.

If the name they give you does not appear, or the credential is expired or suspended, walk away. Do not accept "it is under my partner's name" without checking that name too.

Bueno saber

Contratistas que persiguen tormentas — cómo no dejarse robar

Ya vienen en camino. Nunca pague todo por adelantado, nunca contrate a alguien que toca a su puerta, siempre verifique la licencia.

Llamar 800-422-7128 Sitio web

Oficina de Protección al Consumidor de Wisconsin — fraude y precios abusivos

Más información

Out-of-state contractors follow tornado tracks. Some are legitimate. Many take a large deposit and are never seen again, or do work so poor it has to be torn out and redone at your expense.

Rules worth being rude about:

Never pay in full up front. A third down is a normal maximum. Never pay entirely in cash, by wire, by gift card, or through a payment app to someone you just met
Never sign anything on the doorstep, including an "inspection authorisation" — some of those forms are actually contracts assigning your insurance claim to the contractor
Verify the credential yourself. Wisconsin requires a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential for most residential work. Look it up in the state's license search rather than trusting a card or a website
Get it in writing — full scope, materials, total price, timeline, and the contractor's real business address and license number
Confirm insurance. Ask for the certificate and call the insurer to confirm it is active. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, that can become your liability
Be suspicious of urgency. "This price is only good today" and "I have leftover material from a job nearby" are the two oldest lines in the trade
Check them out with the Better Business Bureau and search the business name plus "complaint"

Your insurer does not require you to use any particular contractor, and you are never obliged to accept the first offer.

Report fraud and price gouging to the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-422-7128.

Appleton door-to-door solicitors must show a City badge

Anyone going door-to-door in Appleton offering roofing, tree removal or repairs must wear a visible City-issued yellow badge and can only solicit 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Aún no traducido — se muestra en inglés.

Llamar 920-832-5500

Appleton Police Department — non-emergency

Más información

Severe weather attracts unlicensed and out-of-town "storm chasers." In the City of Appleton, anyone soliciting door-to-door must:

Wear a City-issued yellow solicitor identification badge, visible at all times
Solicit only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Be polite, and leave immediately if asked

Before hiring anyone, take time to verify who you are working with — see the contractor-license check in this section.

Report a solicitor if they cannot produce their City badge, are soliciting outside allowed hours, refuse to leave, or act suspiciously:

Appleton Police Department, non-emergency: 920-832-5500
City Clerk's Office: 920-832-6443

Nadie de FEMA le va a cobrar nunca

Solicitar ayuda federal por desastre es gratis. Cualquiera que cobre una cuota o exija un pago es un delincuente.

Llamar 866-720-5721 Sitio web

Línea del Centro Nacional de Fraude en Desastres

Más información

A common scam after a declared disaster involves people posing as FEMA, insurance, or government inspectors.

What is always true:

Applying for FEMA assistance is free. So is applying for an SBA disaster loan. Anyone charging a fee to file for you is running a scam
Real inspectors carry official photo identification and will show it without being asked. Ask to see it. Write down the name and number
A genuine FEMA inspector already has your registration number and will never ask you to tell them your full Social Security number or bank details to "verify" it
FEMA does not require you to use a specific contractor, and no federal official will recommend one
Never give banking information to someone who called or came to you unprompted

If someone claiming federal authority demands money, get a description and a plate number if you safely can, and report it to local police and the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721.

Organizaciones benéficas falsas y colectas fraudulentas

Verifique antes de dar. Los fondos de ayuda falsos aparecen dentro de las 48 horas de cada desastre, usando fotos de víctimas reales.

Llamar 800-422-7128 Sitio web

Más información

Fraudulent fundraisers copy genuine photographs and family names from news coverage and social media, often within a day or two. Some also impersonate real charities using near-identical names and lookalike web addresses.

Before giving:

Check the organization at charitynavigator.org, give.org or guidestar.org
Type the web address yourself rather than following a link from a message or social post
Be wary of anything created this week. Prefer organizations that existed before July 27
On crowdfunding sites, look at whether the organizer is clearly connected to the beneficiary. Platforms verify far less than people assume
Never pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. No legitimate charity asks for those. That request alone is proof of fraud
Ignore pressure. Real charities are glad to have your donation next week

Report suspected charity fraud to the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-422-7128.

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