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The Record: Beware scammers

CON ARTISTS love nothing better than a natural disaster. Ordinarily savvy people are at their most vulnerable, as are those who are inclined to be too trusting for their own good. The post-disaster world is easy pickings for unscrupulous operators, and for them, Hurricane Irene brought Christmas in August.

So it pays to heed the warning from the governor, the state Attorney General's Office and the state Division of Consumer Affairs: Beware of fake charities and of general contractors looking to make a quick buck.

"Bad home improvement contractors can leave homeowners with costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. Fake charities capitalize on compassion to steal money that should go to worthy causes," state Attorney General Paula Dow said in a written statement.

Don't let time, pressure and stress cloud good judgment. It is even more important now to do research on the person you hire to work on your home. Check with New Jersey's Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed. Ask the contractor for references. Do research online. And call the Division of Consumer Affairs to find out if the business is registered with the state.

Sham charities, too, are easy to miss. They use names that sound legitimate, and they work hard to tug on the heartstrings. These fakes popped up after Hurricane Katrina and after the tsunami in southeast Asia. They are sure to appear around here, too. Before you donate online or send a check, be sure to vet the charity beforehand and, again, call the Division of Consumer Affairs to see if it is registered.

The gouging does not necessarily wait until the waters have receded and the wind has died down. New Jersey has an anti-price-gouging law, as do New York and Connecticut, which goes into effect after a state of emergency is declared. Prices are not allowed to rise precipitously during a disaster.

In New Jersey, a business may not charge more than 10 percent over the normal amount for items or services. But that does not stop every business looking to profit from misfortune.

If you come across price-gouging or a scam, report it to Consumer Affairs.