Pocono News Section

Avoid Getting Scammed After Tornado

Avoid Getting Scammed After Tornado - Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 @ 05:40pm EST
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY --Whenever disaster like a tornado strikes, scammers aren't far behind -- preying on distraught homeowners.

The tornado left so much damage in its wake. Uprooted trees need to be taken away. Roofs replaced. But before you give any money to someone promising to do the job ...you need to make sure you're not getting scammed.

The images are spectacular. A tornado tearing through Cherry Valley. “There was a two-car garage there." The damage unreal. The twister missed Howard Blakeslee's home --but picked up his attached garage and everything in it. His lawn chair and box of siding got caught in a tree. “I've got a lot more respect for tornados than I did yesterday."

Unfortunately con artists posing as contractors don't have as much respect for victims. George Habruner of High Class Enterprises "they're going to take advantage of the fact that people are in shock what just happened." Landscapers George Habruner and Bill Daly own High Class Enterprises LLC in Stroudsburg. They're passing out flyers to homeowners offering to remove uprooted trees. "We're up trying to drum up business."

But to make sure these guys are legit we checked up on them on the attorney general's new home improvement registry. And sure enough, they are registered and have proof of insurance. Just what the state requires.

You can do the same investigation yourself on anyone offering to do work. Daly says “it’s important that the homeowners who are hiring people check that contractors are registered with the state, have insurance, and are a reputable company."

But before you even, hire a contractor, Allstate agent Mitchell Marcus says contact your insurance agent. "We'll get vendors to board up windows, roof it required. We'll get someone to move furniture inside."

Fortunately, Howard has gotten a lot of help from family and friends. And that's free. One less thing this tornado victim has to worry about.

To link to the Attorney General’s Home Improvement Registry click on

For more information on High Class Enterprises e-mail highclasslandscaping@yahoo. com or call 570-236-9777.