Beware Winter Storm Repair and Auto Scams This Week

Winter weather conditions are not the sole concern spreading nationwide at the moment. As severe storms advance through various regions, opportunistic and fraudulent contractors emerge, offering quick and inexpensive fixes for damaged properties—often disappearing after receiving payment. At the same time, individuals seeking affordable vehicle purchases might unwittingly encounter concealed charges or manipulated mileage readings on the cars they buy.

Whether it’s fraudulent home repair services or deceptive strategies employed by car dealerships, the scams making headlines this week reveal a recurring theme: situations that demand immediate action combined with offers that seem excessively attractive frequently lead to substantial financial losses far beyond initial expectations.

Winter Repair Frauds

Ongoing winter storms persist across the country, and unfortunately, so do the unscrupulous contractors who prey on homeowners desperate for prompt repairs following storm damage. These fraudsters frequently submit unusually low estimates or insist on hefty upfront payments, only to deliver substandard workmanship or abandon the job entirely, according to Jon Grishpul, Co-founder of GreatBuildz. He emphasizes that victims of such schemes have limited options for recovery. “You might pursue legal action through court or small claims proceedings, but there’s no assurance you’ll recover even a portion of your money.”

Attractive Deals Laden with Hidden Costs

Car dealerships have a history of enticing potential buyers with heavily promoted low prices, only to introduce unexpected additional fees during the purchasing process. Insights from CarEdge’s 2026 State of Dealer Fees report indicate that approximately half of dealerships could be participating in these deceptive bait-and-switch maneuvers. “State attorneys general have taken action against dealerships involved in these practices,” notes Zach Shefska, Co-Founder of CarEdge. “This behavior is widespread, occurring far more frequently than authorities can investigate and resolve effectively.”

Manipulating Mileage on Used Vehicles

The used car market is rife with fraudulent activities as well. Just recently, a pre-owned vehicle seller in Atlanta who routinely altered odometers turned himself in to law enforcement. “Practices like title washing and odometer tampering are prevalent,” explains Shefska, who points out that “these deceptions primarily target second-hand cars.”

Key Scam Categories to Recognize and Avoid

Fraudsters continually refine their methods, devising innovative approaches to deceive their targets more effectively. One emerging trend involves artificial intelligence, which enables scammers to contact a broader audience with highly persuasive tactics tailored to individual vulnerabilities.

Nevertheless, many classic scam techniques endure, adapting seamlessly to modern digital environments while remaining potent threats. The majority of frauds adhere to a set of recognizable patterns that have proven successful over time.

1. Imposter Scams: Fraudsters impersonate credible entities such as government offices, financial institutions, workplaces, or even personal contacts like relatives and friends. Their aim is to coerce victims into wiring funds or disclosing confidential details under duress.
2. Phishing and Spoofing Scams: These involve deceptive communications via email, SMS, or telephone that mimic official sources. The objective is to lure recipients into selecting harmful links, installing malicious software, or revealing private data.
3. Online Shopping Frauds: Criminals establish bogus e-commerce sites or advertise scarce products at suspiciously discounted rates. Once payment is made, buyers often receive fake merchandise—or nothing at all.
4. Investment Frauds: These schemes dangle prospects of extraordinary profits from cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange trading, or other purportedly elite ventures. They frequently employ prolonged persuasion strategies, encouraging repeated investments until the victim suffers total loss.
5. Romance Frauds: Scammers cultivate emotional bonds through dating platforms or social networks, ultimately extracting funds and valuables by inventing crises or lucrative investment prospects.

Steps to Take if Targeted or Victimized by a Scam

Everyone faces some risk from scams and fraudulent schemes, yet adopting a few reliable practices can significantly mitigate the risks and minimize potential harm.

Begin by approaching unsolicited communications with caution, particularly those instilling panic or emphasizing time sensitivity. Examples include an apparent bank email warning of account closure, a marketplace text alert about forfeiting a special offer, or an IRS call demanding immediate compliance to avoid penalties.

Such tactics thrive because they compel rushed decisions without reflection. To counter this, independently confirm any organizational requests using verified contact details from official sources, such as phone directories, emails, or websites. Refrain from interacting with suspicious links, files, or replies. Reputable entities never demand secretive, instantaneous responses.

Should you realize you’ve shared financial data or transferred money to a suspected scammer, act swiftly. Notify your bank, credit card provider, or payment service provider right away to halt or reverse the transaction if feasible. Update compromised passwords and activate multi-factor authentication across your accounts for added security.

Reporting the incident can safeguard others from similar ploys. Submit details to the Federal Trade Commission through their designated portal and inform local police or sheriff’s departments. Those affected by identity theft should promptly place credit freezes.

Ongoing vigilance is crucial: routinely examine bank statements and credit reports, maintain up-to-date software, and curtail the dissemination of personal information online. Fraudsters frequently exploit accessible public data to enhance the believability of their cons, making proactive privacy measures essential for long-term protection.