Prosecutor warns: Beware of crooks in tornadoes’ aftermath

In the wake of the horrific tornadoes that ripped through the region Monday night, both men’s offices are fielding calls and taking questions about scam attempts and bad actors.

RELATED: County, chamber set up business help sites in tornadoes' aftermath

Bottom line: Authentic contractors are too busy to solicit new business right now, both Heck and North said at a press conference at the prosecutor’s office. Beware of anyone who shows up unannounced and uninvited, they said.

“There are predators there who are coming in (from out of town) in order to cheat you, to take advantage of you, to price-gouge you,” Heck said.

The region is being visited by opportunists pretending to be contractors, offering to clear debris, patch roofs or even accept donations on behalf of legitimate organizations, they said.

“The legitimate local businesses — those local businesses we deal with every single day in our communities — are not going door to door looking for work,” Heck said.

A knock on the door from someone you don’t know should be considered an immediate “red flag,” North said.

“Legitimate contractors are too busy to come door to door,” North said. “If you have some damage, they’re going to be overwhelmed. There may be some instances where they can come out and provide emergency services.”

Some tips to deal with these people:

Also, watch out for your neighbors and their homes, particularly when they’re at work or away.

“We’ve had people call in concerned, obviously, about people coming into their neighborhoods,” Heck said. “They’re not their neighbors. They’re coming into the neighborhoods and stealing things from their homes or taking things off of their homes. “

Residents with Internet access are invited to go to BBB.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301 for more information.

Residents can also verify that a contractor is registered to do business in the state of Ohio by visiting the Secretary of State's business search site.