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Storm-chaser alerts · California

When a storm hits, fraudulent contractors race in. They form an LLC the week after, knock on doors with cash-only deals, and dissolve before any complaints can be filed. Here's what's active in California right now and how to protect yourself.

6 active alerts

California is in an active disaster window

4 moderate · 2 minor

Out-of-state contractors have already started moving in. Verify before you sign anything.

Active declarations

How storm-chaser fraud works

Six red flags. If three or more match the contractor at your door, walk away.

  1. 1
    LLC formed within 90 days of the storm
    A new business entity formed right after the declaration is the single strongest predictor. Real local contractors have years of public records.
  2. 2
    Out-of-state license plates, no local address
    Trucks from three states away. PO boxes instead of physical offices. Door-to-door knocks before the dust settles.
  3. 3
    Cash-only or insurance-check-only demands
    Wants the insurance check signed over directly. Refuses credit card, refuses a contract, refuses to wait for the adjuster.
  4. 4
    High-pressure same-day signature
    "This deal is only good today." Real contractors take notes, give you a written estimate, and let you compare.
  5. 5
    Will not show a current state license
    Or shows one from a different state. Or one that was suspended. Verify the number against your state's license board before signing.
  6. 6
    Other entities tied to the same agent or address
    Storm chasers often run multiple LLCs that fold in sequence. Search the registered agent's name and the principal address — if multiple companies show up, that's the pattern.

Check before you sign

Earthmove runs a 30-second background check on any contractor — license, business history, complaints, court records, and storm-chaser pattern detection in California.

Check a contractor →