Attorney General’s Office to Aid Consumers Affected by Tornado

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., March 3 -- Missouri Attorney General Josh D. Hawley issued the following news:

The Attorney General's Office is joining with local and state agencies to help those affected by this week's devastating storms. Representatives from the Attorney General's Office will provide resource materials in Perryville with tips on selecting reputable contractors, avoiding price gouging, protecting personal information from identity fraud, and other scams seen after natural disasters.

"Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals take advantage of natural disasters to cheat people who are trying to get their lives back to normal," Hawley said. "We will arm people with information to avoid these scams and get the quality help they need."

Hawley said his office will be watching for individuals who try to take advantage of those whose homes and businesses were affected by the tornado. Hawley said one of the biggest scams following disasters is fly-by-night "storm chasers" who go door-to-door offering cleanup work. Too often, these people insist on upfront payment, only to take the money and then disappear without doing the work. Information provided at the resource centers will give consumers valuable tips to avoid these scams, including considering how long the company has been in business, asking for insurance and licensing information, and checking with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General's Office about a contractor before agreeing to have the work done.

The Multi-Agency Resource Center will take place on March 4th, 2017, at the Perry Park Center, 800 City Park Lane, Perryville, MO 63775, from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

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