In Advance of East Coast Nor’Easter, Attorney General Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Cafferelli Warn Residents to be Aware of Home Improvement Scams

09/25/2026

(Hartford, CT) – In advance of the upcoming nor’easter that could potentially cause flooding, downed trees, power outages and property damage in towns across Connecticut, Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli are warning consumers and families to be aware of home improvement scams.

Common Storm-Related Scams

Storm damage often requires consumers and business owners to make expensive repairs quickly – making them vulnerable to scammers and unlicensed, unscrupulous contractors.

After past significant storms and weather events, Connecticut residents have reported individuals, some claiming to work for utility companies, going door to door offering to reconnect electric power, repair roofs, remove trees or do other work in exchange for cash. The utility companies, and their authorized contractors, always carry identification and none will ask for payments from consumers.

Be wary of any other contractor who is either going door to door, or who contacts you offering a service during this time. Unscrupulous contractors may go door-to-door or otherwise create a sense of urgency to complete storm cleanup, repairs, or improvements. They may offer to perform work at low prices and/or without a contract, may promise that homeowner’s insurance will cover their work, and may perform shoddy or incomplete work. If a contractor asks for payment in full up front, that is also a red flag. Reputable contractors will tie payments to milestones/work performed.

Planned Home Improvement Projects

Scams aren’t limited to storms and other emergencies. Scammers also take advantage of consumers who are planning home improvements or repairs. Whenever consumers contemplate a home improvement project, they should make sure any contractors they work with are registered with the State and insured. It is also a good idea to obtain references from other consumers and do some basic due diligence.

Home Improvement Contractor Registration: In Connecticut, all home improvement contractors must have active Department of Consumer Protection registrations. You can confirm that a home improvement contractor is registered on the eLicense database here.

References/Reputation: Before hiring a home improvement contractor, it makes sense to ask for references from other consumers in the area and to check those references. Note that reviews posted online are not always reliable. They can be faked. The Better Business Bureau is also a resource for learning whether there are complaints against a business and whether those complaints have been resolved to the satisfaction of the consumer:

Judicial Branch Search: You can search the Connecticut Judicial Branch to determine whether there is active litigation against a home improvement contractor. Not all lawsuits will be relevant, but if a contractor is being sued by other homeowners for faulty or incomplete work or violations of the Home Improvement Act, you may want to ask more questions. You can search a contractor’s name and business name on the civil docket here.

In addition, violations of the Home Improvement and Home Solicitation Sales Acts are crimes, which our office prosecutes. You can check the criminal docket for cases prosecuting violations of C.G.S. §20-427(b) here. Please remember that individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty, but if charges or, in some cases, multiple charges are pending against a contractor, you may want to ask more questions.

The Contract: By law, all home improvement contractors must provide a written contract meeting the requirements of the Home Improvement and Home Solicitation Sales Acts. Contracts must include a description of the work, a start and end date for the work, an option to cancel the contract before work commences, and the agreed-upon price. In addition, if the scope of work changes at any time during the project, the contractor must give the homeowner a change order. Failure to provide a written contract meeting these requirements is a crime.

Your home is likely your most significant investment. You should never feel rushed to hire a contractor and take your time to vet anyone you are considering for the work.

“Severe storms can cause severe property damage, and those bills can add up fast. I know it’s tempting to jump on a lowball offer, especially if someone is at your door ready to get to work. But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Take your time and always verify that a contractor is legitimate, licensed, with a detailed contract in writing," said Attorney General Tong.

“Scammers follow the news, just like you, and they prey on vulnerable people following any type of storm or disaster, no matter how severe,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “Taking a few extra minutes to do your research and vet any contractors you may be hiring for clean up or repairs could save you a lot of money and a big headache in the long run. Be wary of any deal that seems too good to be true and any high-pressure sales tactics that seem to be taking advantage of the urgency created by a storm.”

To report a scam or instance of fraud, file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General here or with the Department of Consumer Protection here.

Twitter: @AGWilliamTong

Facebook: CT Attorney General

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov

Consumer Inquiries:

860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov

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