Generator Scams and Storm Chasers: The Post-Disaster Playbook to Avoid
Avoiding generator scams: storm-chaser patterns, deposit traps, unlicensed installs, and the verification checklist.
After every major outage, the trucks appear: out-of-state plates, cash deposits, 'leftover units from the last job,' and installations that no inspector ever sees. Post-disaster fraud is an industry: here's its playbook, and the five-minute verification that defeats it.
The storm-chaser patterns
Door-to-door urgency ('two units left'), large cash deposits before any permit, prices wildly under or over market, no local address or license number on anything, and pressure to skip permits 'to save you money.' Each is individually disqualifying; they usually travel together.
What the damage looks like
Unpermitted gas and electrical work that voids insurance and fails home sales; backfeed-capable wiring that endangers line crews; deposits that vanish; and warranty-invalid equipment with no registration. The cleanup costs more than doing it right ever would have.
The five-minute verification
License number checked against the state board; authorized-dealer status checked on the manufacturer's locator; local physical address and BBB history; written itemized quote with permit line items; and deposits by card (not cash) at reasonable percentages. Legitimate dealers pass all five without flinching: we hand this checklist to prospects and invite them to run it on us.
Quick Answers
Are door-to-door generator sales ever legitimate?
Rarely after disasters: legitimate dealers are underwater serving existing customers during those windows, not canvassing. Treat post-storm door knocks as guilty until verified.
How much deposit is normal?
Reasonable percentages by card with the balance at milestones: never large cash sums, never full payment up front, and never before a written itemized quote exists.
What if I already got burned?
Document everything, report to your state attorney general and licensing board, notify your insurer if unpermitted work exists, and have a licensed contractor assess safety: backfeed wiring gets fixed first. We can point you to licensed inspectors in our states.