By Charlie Mahler
Rice County officials are reminding residents whose property was damaged in the recent hailstorm to beware of unscrupulous individuals posing as contractors seeking to perform repairs.
Several residents have reported being contacted by purported contractors minutes after the hail stopped falling, according to a media release from Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas and County Attorney Brian Mortenson.
They urged residents who know or suspect they have storm-related damage to do research to ensure the person wanting to make repairs is legitimate before signing a contract or making a payment. The sheriff and county attorney advise residents to ask for referrals from trusted community members who have used that person’s or company’s services or by checking with the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota.
“Truly reputable companies,” Mortenson said, “will want you to speak with satisfied customers in the community.”
Additionally, earlier this month Rice County officials and the FBI warned the public about an emerging phishing scheme by criminals impersonating government officials to solicit fraudulent payments for planning and zoning permits.
The criminals, who officials said had targeted several Rice County property owners, leverage publicly available permit information to identify potential victims and increase the believability of the scam. Victims of this scam have been identified nationwide, according to authorities.
Rice County’s Environmental Services Department has taken steps to mitigate the likelihood of applicants receiving the scam emails, according to Rice County Environmental Services Director Julie Runkel.
Charlie Mahler is a Senior Reporter for KYMN News. Contact him at charlie@kymnradio.net
