LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Indiana's attorney general is warning Hoosiers to watch out for scammers looking to take advantage of damage left behind by recent severe storms and flooding.
Indiana has been hammered over the past week by heavy rains, resulting in rivers reaching record levels and sending residents in search of higher ground. More than a dozen counties have declared local disasters, and authorities have confirmed at least 7 people across the state have died from the storms.
In the wake of those storms, Indiana AG Todd Rokita said fake salesman posing as contractors are now going door-to-door, especially in some of the most effected areas up north, and falsely claiming the Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay for their damage.
Rokita said scammers often arrive quickly after disasters to "take advantage of the chaos and uncertainty." The fake contractors may pressure them to sign agreements immediately, promise to waive insurance deductibles or claim they can handle an entire insurance claim.
"These fraudsters prey on people at their most vulnerable," Rokita said. "Do your homework, be tenacious, demand everything in writing, and make sure your resources go to legitimate recovery—not into the pockets of con artists."
Under Indiana law, home improvement contracts worth more than $150 must be in writing. The contract must include details about the work, the total price, approximate start and completion dates and whether subcontractors will be used.
Homeowners generally have three business days to cancel a home improvement contract.
Indiana law also prohibits contractors from "advertising, offering, or promising to pay or rebate any portion of an insurance deductible."
Here are some red flags to look out for:Â
- High-pressure tactics or insistence on signing immediately Â
- Verbal promises instead of a complete written contract
- Offers to waive or reduce your deductible (illegal)Â Â Â
- Claims that "FEMA will pay for everything" or that the contractor will handle the entire insurance claim without your approval of changesÂ
- Requests for large upfront payments or final payment before work is fully complete
- Failure to disclose use of subcontractors or third parties Â
- Requests for multiple referrals or 5-star reviews in exchange for discounts that effectively reduce your deductibleÂ
Any Hoosier who thinks they fell victim to a scam should report it as soon as possible. To do so, you can call the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-382-5516, or click here.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. The Associated Press also contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved.
