What are the common roof repair insurance scams?
Short answer. Watch for contractors who create or exaggerate damage, show photos from another roof, inflate a small repair into a claim, demand large upfront payments, or offer to cover your deductible. Any of these can expose you to a denied claim or insurance fraud, and deductible deals are illegal in Georgia.
The scams
- Manufactured damage. Someone goes on your roof for a free inspection and creates damage with a tool or by scuffing shingles, then shows you the photos.
- Borrowed photos. Pictures of a different, damaged roof presented as yours.
- Inflated repairs. A minor repair written up as storm damage across the roof, or items you never had added to the claim.
- Deductible deals. Offers to waive, rebate, or hide your deductible in the price, which is illegal for contractors in Georgia; see deductible rules.
- Upfront money. A large deposit before any materials arrive, followed by silence.
- Fake urgency. Claims that the insurer's deadline is tomorrow or that a leak will bring the ceiling down tonight.
How to protect yourself
- Ask for photos that show identifiable features of your house, such as your chimney, vents, or a view of your yard, alongside the damage.
- Get a second opinion before filing if something feels off.
- Look for collateral evidence yourself: dented gutters and screens after hail, debris after wind.
- Pay in stages tied to completed work, never in full up front.
- Get a written contract with the company's full name, address, and license information.
Why it matters to you
You sign the claim. If it includes fake or inflated damage, the insurer can deny it, and you can be drawn into a fraud investigation. Report suspected fraud to the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, and read more about storm chaser scams.