Damage to roofs and other structures from natural disasters often attracts people intent on committing fraud.

PASADENA, Texas. Law enforcement officials are asking residents to be aware of scammers following Tuesday’s tornado.

They are raising the issue as contractors begin to saturate disaster areas to help people rebuild them. Some of them are without good intentions.

Several state government agencies have given residents advice on how to avoid potential scams as criminals try to take advantage of the most vulnerable members of the community.

“If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Pasadena Police Chief Josh Brugger said.

Some contractors roaming southeast Houston may be legal, while others may have a different plan.

“At the heart of our community are the predators who prey on the most vulnerable, the oldest people to do nothing but steal their money,” said Harris County District 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia.

The Garcia area was hit by a tornado. Garcia, a former Harris County sheriff, said that if they were legal, they wouldn’t mind being transparent.

“Make sure you have the right papers, the right ID. Make sure you do some research with the Better Business Bureau, but don’t pay upfront for any damages,” Garcia said.

Fraudsters often try to get customers to pay with cash, credit cards, or cashier’s checks in advance.

“All these things should be red flags,” Garcia said.

Business owners and residents should check with their city or county to see if the contractor is registered. Also, do not share any personal information to avoid identity theft.

Residents should shop around to get more than one estimate of the work that needs to be done. People are also advised to pay close attention to what documentation they sign. Also, skip offers to opt out of your insurance deductible because it’s illegal.

Getting at least three bids will help you decide which offers might be too high or too good to be true. Your insurance specialist can give you an idea of ​​how much a repair should cost. Applications must be on company letterhead with a phone number and address. Keep copies of all agreements and warranty terms.

Read each document carefully before signing. The scammers will try to get you to sign a contract, calling it an evaluation or a release, just to go to the roof. And don’t sign a contract with empty seats. Suspicious contractors will later fill in the gaps with higher costs or work other than what you wanted.

“At the heart of our community are predators who prey on the most vulnerable, the oldest people to do nothing but steal their money,” said Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia.

Don’t sign contracts that say, “The landlord agrees to the specified repairs for the amount of insurance proceeds.” If you do this, the contractor will get every penny of your insurance payout. Make sure the contract specifies the materials they will be using. Watch out for defective or low-quality materials during operation.

Be careful if a contractor asks for a large or full down payment. After a natural disaster, it is against the law for out-of-town contractors to ask for a down payment before work begins.

“Make sure you have the right documentation, the right ID, make sure you do some research with the Better Business Bureau, but don’t pay for any damage upfront,” Garcia advised.

It is against the law for a contractor to offer to waive an insurance deductible or to include a deductible in the application. If this happens, find a new contractor. You can also report this to the Attorney General of Texas at 800-621-0508.

Source: Texas Insurance Department.