San Diego County on Alert for Flood Insurance Scams Amid Cleanup Efforts

In the aftermath of severe flooding in San Diego County, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued a warning about the potential for fraud targeting flood victims. The department has received reports of dubious entities, including public adjusters, prematurely contacting homeowners and business owners to offer their services.

Lara emphasized that public adjusters, who are not affiliated with insurance companies and charge a fee for their services, cannot legally solicit business in disaster areas for a week post-disaster. This regulation aims to protect consumers from making hasty decisions that could impact their financial recovery. The Insurance Department advises victims to start their recovery process by directly contacting their insurers or agents and to report any suspicious activities.

Flood insurance, often not included in standard home or renters’ policies, requires a separate policy through private insurers or the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).