Home Home insurance Claims Don’t get snookered by fake roof damage scams Don’t get snookered by fake roof damage scams Written by: Shannon Lee | Reviewed by: Les Masterson Les Masterson Les, a former managing editor, insurance, at QuinStreet, has more than 20 years of experience in journalism. In his career, he has covered everything from health insurance to presidential politics. | Updated on August 13, 2021 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. If your roof is damaged by hail and the repairman hands you a costly estimate, there might be some shenanigans going on right over your head. The number of questionable insurance claims involving hail damage jumped 202 percent (from 256 to 772) from 2008 to 2009 – and those are just the ones that are known. Fake roof-damage schemes are becoming a serious fraud, according to the “2009 Questionable Claims Comparison Report” issued by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Understanding how the fraud is perpetrated is your best defense against getting hoodwinked. Key Takeaways Fake roof damage claims are most common in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other areas that make up the nation’s “tornado alley.” Fake roof damage scams involve a contractor or homeowner exaggerating the amount of damage – this puts a claim in jeopardy. If fake damage of any kind is caught by an insurance company, a claim is unlikely to be paid. Here’s how it plays out: Unscrupulous roofing companies come around after high winds, hail, and the like have hit an area. They offer to fix your roof and remind you that your home insurance company will pay. But it’s what they don’t tell you that could be the problem. Frank Scafidi, director of public affairs at the NICB, explains how the fraud works: “One of the most common techniques is to simply exaggerate existing damage. A homeowner might have sustained some damage to a roof during a storm, for example, but when a contractor inspects it to provide a repair estimate they often inflate the damage or actually cause more damage to obtain a higher payment from the insurance.” It isn’t just contractors who perpetuate the fraud. “Sadly, it’s not unusual for us to see homeowners do the same thing,” Scafidi continues. The property might sustain real damage, such as wind that topples part of a fence. But the homeowner might then knock down the rest of the fence and blame the weather. “In that scenario, the homeowner is committing the fraud,” says Scafidi. If fake damage of any kind is caught by the insurance company, the claim will not be paid, the contractor might face legal action, and the homeowner is left with a serious financial problem to resolve. If the crime was perpetrated by the homeowners, they could face criminal penalties for fraud. Scafidi points out that the fake roof damage claims are most common in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other areas that make up the nation’s “tornado alley.” Red flags for homeowners Although fake roof damage created by a questionable roofing company might be hard to spot, there are some red flags. “They should avoid a contractor who urges them to sign a contract for repair work,” Scafidi says. “Homeowners should seek out more than one estimate and they should ask for references. A contractor who demands an up-front payment for the work is also a warning sign.” Unfortunately, even the most savvy homeowner can get fooled. If this happens to you, for any home-repair fraud, don’t confront the offender directly. “Try to obtain as much information about the person as possible without direct contact,” Scafidi advises. If at all possible, get vehicle license numbers and identifying information on the vehicle. If you can get a company name, phone number or address, that’s even better. Even a description of other people who showed up with the contractor can be helpful. Call your insurance company to report your suspicions, and then report it to the NICB hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422). QuickTake Home insurance claims – How to file and what you should know Does homeowners insurance cover water leaks? Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? Guide to the insurance claims history report (CLUE) How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Does homeowners insurance cover storage units? How to protect your home from lightning strikes Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? How to file a successful mold claim Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage? If the roof on my house caves in due to the weight of snow, is this covered by home insurance? The basics of sewer backup insurance Don't try this at home: Easy ways to mess up your home insurance claims Can insurance companies enter your house or examine your car? Does homeowners insurance cover power surges and outages? Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? Rotten or Sagging Floors: Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? What to do when lightning hits your house Chain saw massacre: Insurance for downed trees How your fire department's rating affects your home insurance bill My husband fell in our home and broke his ankle. Will our homeowners insurance cover this since the accident happened in our home? My dad passed away and we need to find the homeowners insurance policy. What should we do? Before you know it, your kitchen is on fire One of my trees fell into my neighbor's yard last night during a storm. It did not cause any damage. Do I need to call my home insurance company to file a claim? Is it legal for my home insurance company to drop my coverage after filing claim? That's gross! Why home insurance won't pay for disgusting problems We left a faucet turned on in my home and it caused water damage Home insurance policies cover damage from trees downed by ice and snow Homeowners premiums fluctuate with community's fire-fighting ability The trouble with drunk friends See more > In case you missed it What is HO-6 insurance? Average home insurance cost in 2023 What is dwelling coverage and how much do you need? Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it Renters insurance quotes: Compare rates Hurricanes and home insurance: 14 key questions answered Replacement cost policies for your home: Getting what you pay for How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mobile home insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost? Homeowners insurance basics Home Insurance Advisor The Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance of 2021: Guide How much flood insurance do I need? How to bundle home and auto insurance policies to save money The largest home insurance companies by market share Home Insurance Discounts Guide to dog liability insurance: cost and coverage Do you have an emergency go-bag? Most Americans don’t 1/1 Related Articles Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it By Barry Eitel Cost of living comparison by state By Chris Kissell How to find a homeowners insurance policy By Shivani Gite Home replacement cost calculator By Nupur Gambhir Renters insurance calculator: Estimate cost by state or city By Shivani Gite Mobile home insurance: What does it cover and how much does it cost? By Chris Kissell Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get Quotes