Watch out for wildfire-related scams, agencies warn

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As if the flames, smoke and ash from Southern California’s wildfires weren’t bad enough, disasters bring out the scam artists, consumer protection agencies warn. Fire victims need to watch out for phony adjusters, price gougers, tight-fisted landlords and bogus charities.

The Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs cautioned that ‘some people see disasters as a chance to take advantage of those in need.’

After a disaster, consumers should have their insurance company send an adjuster to assess the damage and process the claim.

People calling themselves ‘public adjusters’ don’t work for insurance companies and may falsely promise to get consumers more money than their insurance company’s adjuster, the local consumer affairs department said. According to the department, such operators usually charge a fee of 10% of the total that the consumer gets from an insurance company but don’t get the customer any more money and, in many cases, the consumer is left with even less. For more information or to file a complaint, contact the Department of Insurance at (800) 927-4357.

After the governor declares an area to be a disaster, it becomes a crime to increase prices of food, repairs, construction, emergency and medical supplies in the disaster area. Gasoline prices may rise no more than 10% in the disaster area. Stores can raise prices more than 10% after a disaster only if the increase is due to price increases from their suppliers. If a store is breaking the law, save your receipts and contact the Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 593-8222.

The department also said that if a rented home or apartment is badly damaged in a disaster, tenants can move out right away without giving landlords advance notice. Such tenants have the right to get back their security deposit and last month’s rent. Landlords have to send this money within three weeks after a tenant moves out.

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown said today that Californians who wish to assist fire victims should avoid ‘sham charities’ by closely reviewing disaster-relief appeals before giving.

‘After virtually every disaster, scam artists come out of the woodwork to defraud individuals wishing to help victims,’ Brown said in a statement. ‘Californians should give only to reputable organizations so their donations don’t end up lining the pockets of criminals and opportunists.’

Brown said that fraudulent and misleading charitable solicitations are common after disasters -- whether the donation request comes by phone, mail, in front of retail stores, or e-mail. He recommended sticking with charities that are reputable rather than those that spring up overnight.

Similarly, the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs warned on its website of telemarketers, door-to-door salespeople and e-mails asking for donations to disaster charities, which may be fake.

‘Many bogus charities use names that sound like the real ones. Don’t be fooled. Give only to charities you know,’ the department said.

People should avoid giving contributions to solicitors who won’t give their name, phone number or written materials, and should never give money to anyone sent to their home to pick up cash. The department also advised consumers to be suspicious of out-of-state groups, especially if their only address is a P.O. Box.

A searchable database of registered charities is available at http://ag.ca.gov/charities.php. Consumers can also contact the attorney general office at (916) 445-2021 to find out if a charity is real or to file a complaint. Information on national charities is available from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance at (800) 575-4483 or www.give.org.

Brown said consumers should not give through e-mail solicitations: A link in an e-mail can lead to a site that looks legitimate but was set up by identity thieves seeking money or personal information. He advised against giving cash. Checks should be made out to the charitable organization and not to the person asking for the donation.

Brown recommended asking what percentage of donations would be used for charitable activities that help victims and how much would fund administrative and fundraising costs, and said to be wary of fundraisers who balk at answering. State law requires solicitors to provide such information if asked.

-- Sherine El Madany