This happens after nearly every natural disaster. Scammers come out of nowhere to prey on homeowners desperately trying to rebuild.

The scams are getting bolder, in fact — one of the 61 “contractors”A New York sting operation claimed to have taken a Hurricane Sandy victim for $80,000. This is a result of rampant fraud since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. “When the flood waters recede, that’s when fraud comes to the surface,”Neal Buccino of New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs stated.

Here are some scams to avoid with hurricane season still in full swing through November and tornadoes like the one that ravaged Moore, Okla.

* Pay Me Now. When you have no roof, the only thing you can think of is getting one. However, when you do have some “storm chaser,”These “predators”, as they are also known, will appear at your (rubble strewn) doorstep, claiming that he needs either a large down payment or the full cost upfront before he can get his hammer. Warning alarms should sound. “Frequently, the job will be started, but not completed, and these con artists are never heard from again,”The Insurance Information Institute (III), warns.

* Using Inferior Materials. Do you wish your driveway would last longer than Conan O’Brien’s time hosting? “The Tonight Show”What? You won’t get it if a shady contractor uses cheap materials to make his money. Make sure you use a licensed, insured, bonded and bonded local contractor. You can also get four references from the National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud. “Contractors come prepared with three references,”Phae Howard, the center’s director, said it.

* Urging Temporary Repairs. The caveat that contractors who encourage homeowners to spend large on quick fixes is: Payments for temporary repairs “are covered as part of your total insurance settlement,”The III states that spending too much on them could result in not enough money being left for the permanent fixes that you’ll still need.

Howard points out that the problem isn’t that contractors are dishonest – they aren’t, he said – but rather that there are a lot of them. “it’s just that some dishonest people pretend to be contractors.”

GAF is North America’s largest financial institution, and can help you make sure that yours is trustworthy.(*) (roofing manufacturerLet’s search for it on its website www.gaf.comRoofers in your area that have met the company’s strict professional standards. You will also be entitled to enhanced warranties for your roofing system thanks to their designation.”Master Elite”