Scammers, storm chasers preying on victims

INSURERS are concerned scammers and storm chasers are active in North Queensland and might be trying to con or mislead flood victims.

The Insurance Council of Australia said it received several reports of fake tradespeople offering building inspections and repairs.

Meanwhile, Townsville resident Kathleen Church reported receiving a suspicious call about a recent insurance claim and a text purporting to be from Woolworths wanting to contact her about a rewards program. She said she hung up on a person who sounded “like an Indian gentleman”, while Woolworths told her it was not sending the texts.

“There’s going to be a lot of vulnerable people who have lodged claims,” Ms Church said. “I’m concerned particularly for vulnerable people.”

The Insurance Council’s Campbell Fuller said scammers offered special cash deals and often picked vulnerable targets, such as the elderly.

“Scammers may pretend to be a kind-hearted tradie, or a builder or an assessor sent by an insurance company. They take cash and leave the job unstarted, unfinished or badly done,” Mr Fuller said. “Insurance companies will never send an assessor or builder to a customer’s home without first notifying them.

“A builder or tradesperson sent by an insurer to undertake repairs will never demand payment from the householder for the work being undertaken.

“If a consumer has any concerns, they should ask for identification and contact the insurer for confirmation. Scammers should be reported to local police.

“Home and business owners who needed repairs should contact their insurer before commissioning any work, even for emergency repairs. Unauthorised work may not be covered by the policy.”

Mr Fuller said so-called claims advisers would approach flood victims and offer to handle all claim activity between homeowners and their insurers for a hefty fee.

“They may promise to negotiate a better deal. However, the use of a claims adviser should be considered carefully and with full transparency – the same as for any service or tradesperson,” he said.

“Claims advisers usually do not secure better outcomes for customers than they could have generated themselves.”