472,000 insurance claims have been filed from Hurricane Ian damage

Insurance claims post-Hurricane Ian are coming in like a deluge — which means fraud might not be far behind. 

The National Insurance Crime Bureau recently reported that 471,581 claims had been filed from Ian. Of all the claims, 431,702, are from Florida. Nearly two-thirds of the Florida claims are homeowner and business claims, at 272,465, NICB found, and the remaining are personal automobile claims, at 151,892. The NICB was created to predict, prevent and prosecute insurance crime. 

Despite substantial damage to homes, businesses and vehicles following Hurricane Ian, NICB officials encourage residents to take their time and not try to accelerate the rebuilding process in order to avoid being scammed. 

"We know residents want to get back on their feet, but we are already seeing dishonest fraudsters who are preying on unsuspecting victims like vultures," NICB President and CEO David Glawe says in a statement. "This is not the time to let your guard down. Stay vigilant and protect yourself and your loved ones from these criminals."

Some tips from the National Insurance Crime Bureau on hiring a contractor post-Ian include: 

• Get more than one estimate.
• Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules and other expectations should be detailed and itemized.
• Request references and do the research.
• Ask to see the salesperson's driver's license and write down the license number and their vehicle's license plate number.
• Look out for out-of-state contractor licenses, as well as vehicle registrations, as these may also indicate possible fraudulent contractors.
• Never sign a contract with blanks; terms you don't agree with can be added later.
• Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished.
• Ensure reconstruction is up to current code.