Be wary of anyone knocking on your door offering unsolicited repairs to your home.
Be suspicious of contractors who try to rush you, especially on non-emergency or temporary repairs.
Be on the lookout for change order fraud, which can happen when a corrupt contractor submits fraudulent change orders to increase the work price or extend a contract without your permission.
Do not believe a contractor who says they are supported by the government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency does not endorse individual contractors or loan companies.
Never sign a contract with blank spaces. A crooked contractor could alter after they receive your signature.
Never pay for work upfront. Always inspect the work and make sure you're satisfied before you pay. Most contractors will require a reasonable down payment to start but do not pay anything until you have a written contract.
Avoid paying with cash. Use a check or credit card instead as this creates a record of your payments to the contractor.

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Contractor fraud can account for as much as 10% of NAT CAT losses