Storm chasers follow the damage. How to spot the scam

Indiana's attorney general is warning residents to watch for scammers after a derecho and widespread flooding left thousands of homes damaged. The pattern is always the same. Crews show up uninvited within days of a storm, push a contract on the spot, ask for a large deposit in cash, and then do little or none of the work.

Florida and Texas homeowners see this every hurricane season, usually while the power is still out. Protect yourself with a few habits. Call your carrier and open the claim before you sign anything with a contractor. Photograph the damage yourself. Verify the contractor's license with the state before money changes hands, and never hand over a check for the full job up front. Be careful with any document that assigns your claim benefits to a repair company, because signing one can hand your claim to a stranger.

If a contractor is pressuring you to sign, call your agent first. An independent agent can walk you through the claim process and tell you what your policy actually requires before you commit to anyone.