$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
storm chaser roofer scam
After a major storm, out-of-town contractors go door to door offering cheap roof repairs, collect deposits, and do shoddy work or disappear.
“contractor scam”
↑ 743%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomeowners
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
After a hailstorm, hurricane, or severe weather event, contractors flood the affected area offering immediate roof repairs.
2
They collect large deposits and may begin work with substandard materials or unlicensed workers.
3
The contractor disappears before finishing, leaves behind poor quality work, or inflates the insurance claim for their own profit.
What to do first
Verify the contractor's license, insurance, and local business registration before signing any contract.
Related terms
storm damage contractor scamroofing fraudfly-by-night rooferContractor and home repair scamsDoor-to-doorSurgingHomeownersOlder adultsDisaster victimsFreelancers and contractorsReal estate professionals and homebuyersRetirees and seniorsUnited StatesCanadastorm damage contractor scamroofing fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Michael, 42, a homeowners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate contractor and home repair scams situation while using Door-to-door. After a hailstorm, hurricane, or severe weather event, contractors flood the affected area offering immediate roof repairs.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They collect large deposits and may begin work with substandard materials or unlicensed workers.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The contractor disappears before finishing, leaves behind poor quality work, or inflates the insurance claim for their own profit.
The outcome
Michael realized something was wrong when contractor appears unsolicited at your door immediately after a storm. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify the contractor's license, insurance, and local business registration before signing any contract. Michael's experience shows why contractor appears unsolicited at your door immediately after a storm and they offer to handle your insurance claim directly or ask you to sign over insurance benefits are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Contractor appears unsolicited at your door immediately after a storm
- They offer to handle your insurance claim directly or ask you to sign over insurance benefits
- Company has no local address, only an out-of-state phone number
- 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
- ✓Verify the contractor's license, insurance, and local business registration before signing any contract.
- ✓Never sign over your insurance benefits to a contractor — work with your insurer directly.
- ✓Get at least three written estimates from local, licensed contractors before committing.
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 Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies warns that unlicensed storm chasers cause millions in damages following major weather events.
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.
- ✓Verify the contractor's license, insurance, and local business registration before signing any contract.
- ✓Never sign over your insurance benefits to a contractor — work with your insurer directly.
- ✓Get at least three written estimates from local, licensed contractors before committing.
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 Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies warns that unlicensed storm chasers cause millions in damages following major weather events.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
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, Older adults, Disaster victims
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Door-to-door — Contractor and home repair 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 Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies warns that unlicensed storm chasers cause millions in damages following major weather events.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about storm chaser roofer scam
How does the storm chaser roofer scam work?+
After a hailstorm, hurricane, or severe weather event, contractors flood the affected area offering immediate roof repairs. They collect large deposits and may begin work with substandard materials or unlicensed workers. The contractor disappears before finishing, leaves behind poor quality work, or inflates the insurance claim for their own profit.
What are the warning signs of storm chaser roofer scam?+
Contractor appears unsolicited at your door immediately after a storm They offer to handle your insurance claim directly or ask you to sign over insurance benefits Company has no local address, only an out-of-state phone number
What should I do if I encounter storm chaser roofer scam?+
Verify the contractor's license, insurance, and local business registration before signing any contract. Never sign over your insurance benefits to a contractor — work with your insurer directly. Get at least three written estimates from local, licensed contractors before committing.
Who is most at risk for storm chaser roofer scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homeowners, Older adults, Disaster victims. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Door-to-door.
Is storm chaser roofer scam getting worse?+
storm chaser roofer scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
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