AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning Texans against bad actors looking to take advantage of the devastating flooding by perpetuating scams.
“There are no words for how wrong it is that morally bankrupt people are trying to take advantage of Texans by using this tragedy to scam them. Anyone engaging in these scams will face the full force of the law, and I will not rest until they are brought to justice,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I will continue to work to defend those impacted by this tragedy and also urge everyone to join me in praying for those affected by this terrible natural disaster.”
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The Attorney General’s office is cautioning everyone in the areas affected by storms and flooding to be extremely careful with people offering to help you rebuild or reconstruct.
Scams involving contractors failing to perform work they were paid to do are not uncommon following such tragic disasters. Flood victims are reminded to be wary of contractors from out of the area, don’t rush into signing a contract, ask for references, and check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure they’re working with a trustworthy business. In addition, under state law, once the governor issues a disaster declaration, vendors are prohibited from charging exorbitant prices for necessities during and after the crisis.
Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster in the following Texas Counties: Bandera, Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reeves, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson.
For additional guidance to help spot disaster scams, visit the Attorney General’s website.