Scammers have descended on the hardest hit areas post-Hurricane Helene — including so-called “FEMA-authorized” tree experts who’ve gone door to door demanding $280 a pop to help in devastated Asheville, North Carolina.
James Butler, a well and septic contractor in the artsy city, issued a warning on TikTok that those most vulnerable are being targeted by con men looking for a quick buck.
“What is a natural disaster without scammers?” Butler mused sardonically to his viewers.
“And apparently, the scammers are here in Asheville, North Carolina.”
A man in a suit arrived at a house in a Prius, according to Butler, and knocked on a woman’s door, claiming to be a representative for a “FEMA-authorized” tree removal service.
The alleged rep told the homeowner that it would cost about $2,800 to remove the trees from her house, but that the federal government would pay 90% of the cost — so she’d only need to write him a check for $280.
That fee, he told her, would ensure she’d be put on a list for tree removal in the area, Butler said.
A suspicious Butler, who was at the house helping the homeowner fix her water line, intervened.
“Listen, I’m sure they exist but I’ve never seen a tree guy in a suit,” Butler said he told the man as he waited for his check.
“Matter of fact, I’ve never heard of FEMA giving homeowners co-payments.”
According to Butler, the man in the suit sputtered a reply, but eventually left without the check in hand.
People in the comments shared their own experiences and tips for sleuthing out scammers.
TikTok user @sarahmomof7 wrote “no tree guy in a suit! My husband has done tree work for 30 yrs… always in jeans and a t-shirt with company names.”
Adams2173 encouraged people to look at the contact information, especially domain names.
“The moment I saw the Gmail email account I would have been suspicious,” he wrote. “Most businesses have their own email domain address.”
North Carolina’s Attorney General Josh Stein issued tips Friday on how to avoid disaster repair scams, including getting written estimates for a service, making no upfront payments, and being wary of “now or never” deals.
Above all else, Stein encouraged people to do their research about any company they enter into business with.
Another type of scam to look out for, according to Stein, is a charity scam, where people create fake charities to receive donations that never make it to actual aid.
One Reddit user on the Asheville Subreddit described a version of a charity scam their wife was targeted by, where a man called her under the guise of sending her a check to support the community, but actually just wanting her details to file a FEMA request in her name.
That post was found on a longer Reddit thread with resources for Asheville residents, such as a database of open pharmacies, a list of Wifi locations and addresses where food and supplies are being distributed.
At the end of his TikTok, Butler imparted a simple reminder to his followers.
“You have to look out for each other,” he said.
