Scammers Out After Devastating Pittsburgh Storms, PA AG Warns

PITTSBURGH, PA — Following the devastating severe storms last week that left hundreds of caused massive destruction in Southwestern Pennsylvania, state Attorney General Dave Sunday on Wednesday warned of people attempting to scam victims of the violent weather.

Many impacted homeowners and business owners are dealing with property damages requiring repairs, and Sunday advised people to do their research before signing service agreements or making payments.

“My thoughts are with all those affected by the storms that ravaged Western Pennsylvania last week. The unfortunate reality is that bad actors will take advantage of individuals who are vulnerable and recovering from storms which felled trees, damaged structures, and caused power outages,” Sunday said.

“The best way to avoid being scammed is to do a thorough check on any potential contractors before committing to services. If you believe you are being targeted or have been a victim, we encourage you to contact our Bureau of Consumer Protection.”

If you think you have been a victim of a home improvement contractor, file a complaint online, or contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.

In Pennsylvania home improvement contractors are required to:

• Provide you with a copy of the complete contract, free of charge;
• Include within their contracts a number of disclosures, such as the contractor’s contact and registration information, the amount of the contract, a description of the work to be performed, and insurance information;
• Allow you to rescind your home improvement contract without penalty within three business days of the signing date, except as provided under law for emergency situations; and
• Not take a deposit that is greater than one-third of the contract price, plus the cost of special order materials.

Home improvement contracts that fail to contain required disclosures are not enforceable against a consumer, Sunday said. Additionally, a contractor may not demand or receive any payment for any home improvement work until the home improvement contract contains all required information and is signed by the homeowner.

Additionally, in order to protect themselves, consumers should take the following additional steps:

• Request references and thoroughly check those references;
• Obtain more than one bid for the job; and
• Check for complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau.