$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake insurance adjuster scam
Scammers pose as insurance adjusters after disasters, requesting personal and policy information from homeowners, then filing fraudulent claims or stealing identity data.
“disaster scam”
↑ 500%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomeowners
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.4K
median reported loss
Typical range$90 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers arrive at disaster-damaged homes posing as insurance adjusters, sometimes wearing branded clothing and carrying clipboards to appear legitimate.
2
They request policy numbers, personal information, and even access to the home to assess damage, then use this information to file fraudulent claims and redirect payments.
3
Some fraudulent adjusters convince homeowners to sign over insurance benefits by promising faster claim processing.
What to do first
Contact your insurance company directly to confirm any adjuster visit, and ask for the adjuster's license number to verify with your state insurance department.
Related terms
insurance adjuster impersonationfake claims adjusterNatural disaster scamsDoor-to-doorSurgingHomeownersDisaster victimsSeniorsReal estate professionals and homebuyersRetirees and seniorsUnited Statesinsurance adjuster impersonationfake claims adjuster
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Nicole, 42, a homeowners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate natural disaster scams situation while using Door-to-door. Scammers arrive at disaster-damaged homes posing as insurance adjusters, sometimes wearing branded clothing and carrying clipboards to appear legitimate.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They request policy numbers, personal information, and even access to the home to assess damage, then use this information to file fraudulent claims and redirect payments.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Some fraudulent adjusters convince homeowners to sign over insurance benefits by promising faster claim processing.
The outcome
Nicole realized something was wrong when adjuster arrives without an appointment or before you have filed a claim. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Contact your insurance company directly to confirm any adjuster visit, and ask for the adjuster's license number to verify with your state insurance department. Nicole's experience shows why adjuster arrives without an appointment or before you have filed a claim and cannot provide a verifiable adjuster license number or company identification are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Adjuster arrives without an appointment or before you have filed a claim
- Cannot provide a verifiable adjuster license number or company identification
- Asks for your policy number, Social Security number, or bank details on the doorstep
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Contact your insurance company directly to confirm any adjuster visit, and ask for the adjuster's license number to verify with your state insurance department.
- ✓Never sign over your insurance benefits to a third party and never share your policy number with someone who contacts you unsolicited.
- ✓Report suspected insurance fraud to your state insurance department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau at 1-800-835-6422.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported a 30% increase in insurance adjuster impersonation complaints following major 2024 disaster events compared to the prior year.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Contact your insurance company directly to confirm any adjuster visit, and ask for the adjuster's license number to verify with your state insurance department.
- ✓Never sign over your insurance benefits to a third party and never share your policy number with someone who contacts you unsolicited.
- ✓Report suspected insurance fraud to your state insurance department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau at 1-800-835-6422.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported a 30% increase in insurance adjuster impersonation complaints following major 2024 disaster events compared to the prior year.
NICB Annual Questionable Claims Report 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Homeowners, Disaster victims, Seniors
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Door-to-door — Natural disaster scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Homeowners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported a 30% increase in insurance adjuster impersonation complaints following major 2024 disaster events compared to the prior year.
Source notes
- NICB Annual Questionable Claims Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake insurance adjuster scam
How does the fake insurance adjuster scam work?+
Scammers arrive at disaster-damaged homes posing as insurance adjusters, sometimes wearing branded clothing and carrying clipboards to appear legitimate. They request policy numbers, personal information, and even access to the home to assess damage, then use this information to file fraudulent claims and redirect payments. Some fraudulent adjusters convince homeowners to sign over insurance benefits by promising faster claim processing.
What are the warning signs of fake insurance adjuster scam?+
Adjuster arrives without an appointment or before you have filed a claim Cannot provide a verifiable adjuster license number or company identification Asks for your policy number, Social Security number, or bank details on the doorstep
What should I do if I encounter fake insurance adjuster scam?+
Contact your insurance company directly to confirm any adjuster visit, and ask for the adjuster's license number to verify with your state insurance department. Never sign over your insurance benefits to a third party and never share your policy number with someone who contacts you unsolicited. Report suspected insurance fraud to your state insurance department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau at 1-800-835-6422.
Who is most at risk for fake insurance adjuster scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homeowners, Disaster victims, Seniors. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Door-to-door.
Is fake insurance adjuster scam getting worse?+
fake insurance adjuster scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.