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Southern California Wildfire Scam Alert

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential California Realty

With every tragedy, unfortunately Scam Artists come out of the woodwork. The Better Business Bureau has posted an article on the following scams that they feel might occur during the next few weeks. 

Crooked Home-Improvement Contractors

Phony Charity Giving

Bogus Police and Firefighters Fund-raisers

Insurance Scams 

Questions to ask :

Is it a Reputable Firm?

Are they asking for money upfront?

Is the phone number local?

If you or someone you know has been affected by the fires, please have them check the Better Business Bureau site so that they don't lose even more.

www.sd.bbb.org

Or you can call 1-800-600-7050

To check if a contractor is Licensed:

Call the State Licensing Contractors Board at 1-800-321-2752

If I can help you or someone you know with a lease or purchase of a home, please do not hesitate to call me.

 

Comments(5)

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Gail Braatz
Realty Executives Elite - Waukesha, WI

Christi,

I hope everything can have a turn for the better soon. Fire can be such a devastating thing.

Sincerely,

Gail Braatz

Nov 05, 2007 02:23 PM
Jess Rankin
Pickering Group - Phoenix, AZ

You always have to be prepared for the adjustments the crooks will do.  For real estate out here, we have idiots who are scamming people by getting them to pay rent and upfront money to them for stopping their foreclosure.  Trick is the guy never pays the mortgage t keep the home current and pockets the rent money.   Criminals always adjust...it is a shame.

-Jess Rankin, Pickering Group

lending in all 50 States   www.pickeringgroup.com

 

Nov 05, 2007 02:26 PM
Joe Zapata
Keller Williams Realty Media World - Burbank, CA
Your Burbank Real Estate Expert
Chris - thanks for the heads up on this.  It is all too true that the trash of the earth will always be attracted to situations like this.  I am glad to see that they are being proactive in this case.
Nov 05, 2007 02:26 PM
Christi Stewart
Prudential California Realty - Laguna Niguel, CA
Prudential Calif. Realty

Gail-I hope so too!

Jess-I've heard about that scam as well and it makes me sick.  Hopefully they will get caught.

Joe-No Problem.  Knowledge is power in most situations :)

Nov 05, 2007 02:31 PM
Bob & Carolin Benjamin
Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ
East Phoenix Arizona Homes
It's sad when bad people come out after a tragedy. Thanks for the post.
Nov 05, 2007 03:05 PM