The Indicator from Planet Money

How to avoid scammers after a natural disaster

November 19, 2025

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  • Contractor fraud becomes a lucrative business after natural disasters, with estimates suggesting roughly 10% of post-disaster spending is lost to scams annually. 
  • Homeowners can protect themselves from post-disaster contractor scams by getting multiple bids, verifying communications with insurers, checking contractor approval status, and utilizing the state-mandated rescission window for door-to-door contracts. 
  • The story of Craig Crosby illustrates how seemingly reputable franchises can use inflated bills and legal pressure, like mechanics liens, to exploit vulnerable disaster survivors. 

Segments

Introduction to Contractor Scams
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(00:00:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Contractor scams represent a secondary crisis for survivors immediately following natural disasters.
  • Summary: Survivors eager to rebuild after disasters face the threat of contractor scams. This issue is lucrative, evidenced by $183 billion in infrastructure losses from weather-related disasters in 2024. The episode promises to detail how these scams operate and offer protective advice.
Craig Crosby’s Wildfire Ordeal
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(00:02:39)
  • Key Takeaway: A homeowner in Southern California, Craig Crosby, suffered significant property damage from a wildfire and subsequently faced a $62,000 bill from a contractor who performed unapproved work.
  • Summary: Craig Crosby lost his home and orchard in the mountain fire near Camarillo. Salespeople from One Silver Serve, a franchise of Surf Pro, approached him offering help. Despite adding clauses limiting work to inspection and requiring insurance payment authorization, the company performed extensive work and later sued him after he refused the bill.
Mechanics Liens and Fraud
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(00:06:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Mechanics liens, while legitimate for securing payment for reputable contractors, are weaponized after disasters to exert undue legal pressure on overwhelmed victims.
  • Summary: A mechanics lien is a legal claim against property for unpaid work, typically used by plumbers or electricians. In disaster scenarios, these liens can be used aggressively against vulnerable homeowners. Craig Crosby’s neighbors also faced inflated bills and liens from the same company.
Expert Advice on Protection
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(00:07:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Homeowners must proactively verify contractor legitimacy and utilize the legal ‘recision window’ afforded to door-to-door sales contracts.
  • Summary: Niambi Tillman of the National Insurance Crime Bureau advises getting multiple bids and demanding detailed written scopes of work and costs. Homeowners should verify communications and check if contractors are approved by their insurance company. Contracts signed door-to-door often carry a 3-to-7-day cooling-off period allowing rescission.
Resolution and Ongoing Fight
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(00:09:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Public exposure via investigative reporting can sometimes force scammers to drop legal actions, though victims’ counterclaims may persist.
  • Summary: Following the publication of an article about his case, One Silver Serve rescinded the lien and dropped the lawsuit against Craig Crosby. Crosby is still pursuing counterclaims for fraud and property damage. Lawsuits against some of his neighbors remain outstanding.