Science and Technology

[Fox News] Tech tips to avoid contractor scams after a storm or disaster

Severe storms have swept across the United States, spawning tornadoes, hail and damaging winds in multiple states. In Hawaii, both Maui and the Big Island have been hit by firestorms with severe destruction.

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Unfortunately, that means that some people whose houses are still intact are going to experience damage to their homes, whether it be roof damage, flooding, leaks, structural issues or something else.

What’s even more unfortunate is that this is a time when scammers will prey on, and try to take advantage of, innocent down-and-out Americans who are just trying to get their homes back to normal.

Here’s what you can do to avoid the double whammy of a post-disaster scam.

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If you’ve ever had damage to your home from severe weather, you know how stressful the process can be to get your home back to normal. The process can be intimidating and long-winded, which is why scammers will create fake deals and claim that they can get your home fixed more quickly than anyone else.

They will claim to be a contractor who can fix your home fast and will ask for you to pay them directly in cash. Before you know it, your money is gone, the job still needs to be done, and the “contractor” has disappeared without a trace. This is all too common and can be avoided with the proper steps taken.

DON’T FALL FOR GEEK SQUAD, PAYPAL SCAM ALERT

The first step you should take after your home has been damaged is to reach out to your home insurance provider. Many insurance companies also offer mobile apps that allow you to report and track damage claims. 

These apps often have features that can help you identify reputable contractors and avoid scams. For example, the app may provide a list of recommended contractors whom the insurance company has vetted or provide tips on how to spot common scams.

Once you get the list of contractors from your home insurance provider, start doing your research on each one. One way to do this is through the Better Business Bureau, which is there to help you see if these companies have ever had any complaints, how they go about resolving complaints, and if they’re worth hiring.

You do not have to use any of the companies that your home insurance provider recommends. However, you must do the research before hiring anyone, whether they were recommended to you or not.

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MORE: HURRICANE AND DISASTER PREP: BEST TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR WEATHER EVENTS 

If you decide that you do not want to use a company recommended by your insurance, there are many online directories that you can use to find reputable contractors in your area. These directories often include reviews and ratings from other customers, which can help consumers make informed decisions about whom to hire. Examples of such directories include HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List and Yelp.

Don’t forget about using your social media, which can also be a valuable resource in dealing with storm damage. You can use social media to ask for recommendations from your friends and family or to join local groups where you can get advice from others who have dealt with similar situations. You can also see if the company you’re interested in using has a social media presence or a website so that you can see some previous work it’s done.

Overall, the key is to stay informed and use technology to your advantage. By using the resources available to you, you can protect yourself from scammers and ensure that you get the help you need to repair any damage caused by a storm.

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One of the biggest scam tactics that the Better Business Bureau has seen is when a contractor asks for you to pay them directly in cash or give them the check that you’ve received from your insurance company. 

Often times, when insurance companies pay claims, they will send one check that is meant for multiple contractors, such as a roofing team, siding team, and others. You should never hand that insurance check over to a contractor or pay them in cash.

HOW TO GUARD AGAINST ‘BRUSHING’ SCAMS

The best way to pay a contractor is via credit card. That way, you have their name, and that you paid them, on file, and you can reach out to your credit card company in case anything goes wrong. If you ever do need to file a complaint, contact the Better Business Bureau, where you can file a claim 24/7.

HOW TO AVOID THE MALICIOUS PHONE SIM SWAP SCAM

There are websites dedicated to tracking and reporting scams related to storm damage. You can use these sites to stay informed about common scams and to report any suspicious activity you encounter. Here are a few examples:

The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) – You can call their hotline at 866-720-5721 to report fraudulent activity related to natural disasters. They also have a website where you can report scams and find resources on how to protect yourself from fraud.

Better Business Bureau – The BBB has a Scam Tracker tool on its website where you can search for scams related to storm damage and other types of fraud.

ScamPulse.com – This website is run by the Better Business Bureau and allows you to search for scams related to any natural disasters. You can also report a scam and find resources on how to protect yourself from fraud.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – FEMA has a webpage dedicated to disaster fraud where you can learn how to recognize and report scams related to storm damage.

StopFraud.gov – This website is maintained by the United States Department of Justice and provides information on how to report and prevent fraud related to natural disasters.

It’s important to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with storm damage and always verify the legitimacy of contractors and repair services before hiring them.

DON’T FALL FOR THESE WRONG NUMBER TEXTING SCAMS

Before a storm even hits, consider investing in a personal locator beacon, also known as a PLB, which is a small, handheld device that transmits a distress signal to emergency services in the event of an emergency. It uses satellite technology to pinpoint your exact location and can alert rescuers where cell coverage may be limited or non-existent.

Stay safe with these five best personal locator beacons

If you have no cell phone service after a storm, but own an iPhone 14 or an iPhone 14 Pro or later model, you can use the feature – Emergency SOS via satellite. Apple has partnered with satellite communications company Globalstar to create the feature and uses satellite connectivity to put you in touch with local emergency dispatch centers if they are in an area with no cellular coverage.

I also recommend you have a well-stocked emergency kit that includes essential supplies such as non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place for where to go and what to do in the event of a severe weather emergency.

Get my six survival gear must-haves by heading to Cyberguy.com/SurvivalGear

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CYBERCRIMINAL GETS ACCESS TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?

By taking these precautions and being prepared ahead of time, you can increase your chances of staying safe and minimizing the impact of a storm on yourself and your loved ones. 

It is also important to exercise caution and remain vigilant after a severe storm; as I mentioned, scammers often exploit the vulnerability of innocent individuals like us. Thus, it is imperative to stay alert and take necessary precautions.

Have you ever experienced storm damage or encountered a scam related to it? Share your story with us, and let us know how you dealt with it by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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Business

[Fox Business] Disney raising prices of Disney+, Hulu ad-free plans for 2nd time in a year

For the second time in a year, Disney is raising the prices of its ad-free Disney+ and Hulu streaming service plans. 

The company announced this week that the ad-free version of Disney+ will increase to $13.99 a month starting Oct. 12, up from the current $10.99 a month price. For Hulu, the ad-free version will rise to $17.99 a month, up from its ongoing $14.99 offering. 

Disney also is launching a new “Duo Premium” plan that bundles both ad-free versions of the streaming services for a $19.99 monthly cost. The company had last announced price hikes for the ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu one year ago today. 

“The new Disney+ and Hulu Bundle ad-free plan launching on September 6 adds another option to an already comprehensive slate of subscription plans that are among the best values in streaming today,” Disney said in a statement. 

DISNEY HINTS AT UPCOMING STREAMING PASSWORD SHARING CRACKDOWN 

Prices for both streaming services with ads remain unchanged at $7.99 a month. 

“Subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu give viewers instant access to the best of streaming television and film – including award-winning Original content, movies and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more and one of the largest on-demand streaming libraries of current and past seasons of hit shows and movies,” Disney said. 

The Walt Disney Co. also announced Wednesday that it may start restricting account sharing for its streaming services, in a move mimicking Netflix. 

“We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family,” CEO Bob Iger said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

DISNEY LOOKS TO AI TO POSSIBLY CUT COSTS 

Disney will start updating its subscriber agreements to include “additional terms” on sharing later in the year, he said. That, according to Iger, would be followed in 2024 by implementation of “tactics to drive monetization.” 

“What we don’t know, of course, is as we get to work on this, how much of the password sharing as we basically eliminate it will convert to growth and subs,” he told analysts and investors. “Obviously, we believe there will be some, but we’re not speculating.” 

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Streaming competitor Netflix previously started subjecting users of Netflix in the U.S. and many other countries to its new policy that an account “is meant to be shared by people living together in one household” in May. 

FOX Business’ Aislinn Murphy contributed to this report. 

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Business

[Fox Business] Bollinger Shipyards, America’s largest privately owned shipbuilder, to close its New Orleans operations

Bollinger Shipyards is closing its operations in New Orleans and plans to shift the work to its larger facilities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, officials said.

The Bollinger company confirmed the move Tuesday, saying the decision to close its Algiers Point facility was driven by a desire to consolidate its repair and maintenance operations, and was not a reflection of a downturn in business or any negative aspect of New Orleans, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported. The company is headquartered in Lockport.

“We recently reallocated the work being performed at Algiers to our other facilities along the Gulf Coast,” spokesperson T.J. Tatum said. “Importantly, all jobs were relocated within our other 13 facilities as we continue to expand our workforce.”

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The company is the largest privately owned shipbuilder in the United States. Last year, it acquired Halter Marine in Mississippi, which considerably expanded its shipbuilding order book for Coast Guard and Navy vessels and added a large repair yard.

Bollinger said the larger of the two dry docks at Algiers — “Mrs. Jody,” which weighs in at 4,000 tons — sailed off to the newly acquired shipyard in Mississippi. The smaller dock — “Miss Darby,” about half the size of its counterpart — went to Port Fourchon to be reconditioned, and could later be moved to the company’s shipyard in Harvey.

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The Algiers site is owned by the Port of New Orleans. The port, which signed a 10-year lease with Bollinger in 2021, is negotiating release terms with the company.

“We are working with them on the terms of their lease to achieve a mutually beneficial transition,” port spokesperson Kimberly Curth said. “We have several interested parties in the riverfront property to ensure continuity of maritime commerce at the facility.”

Many of the Bollinger Algiers workers were being offered jobs at Harvey repair yard, the newspaper reported.

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Business

[Fox Business] July inflation breakdown: Where are prices rising and falling the fastest?

Inflation rose in July for the first time in more than a year as a spike in the cost of rent, gasoline and groceries kept prices abnormally high for millions of U.S. households. 

The Labor Department said Thursday that the consumer price index, a broad measure of the price for everyday goods including gasoline, groceries and rents, rose 0.2% in July from the previous month, in line with estimates.

Prices climbed 3.2% from the same time last year, up from 3% in June but slightly below the 3.3% forecast from Refinitiv economists. It marked the first acceleration in the headline figure in more than a year, underscoring the challenge of taming high inflation.

“Lower airline, used car, and medical care prices helped keep inflationary pressure under check, while still high shelter costs were the primary driver of headline price increases during the month,” said Sam Millette, fixed income strategist for Commonwealth Financial Network. 

INFLATION ROSE 3.2% IN JULY AS PRICES TICK HIGHER FOR FIRST TIME IN A YEAR

Here is a breakdown of where Americans are seeing prices rising and falling the fastest as they continue to wrestle with sticker shock.

Shelter costs, which account for about 40% of the core inflation increase, rose 0.4% for the month and are up 7.7% over the past year. 

It was the largest contributor to the monthly increase, the Labor Department said in the report, accounting for 90% of the inflation spike in July. 

Rising rents are concerning because higher housing costs most directly and acutely affect household budgets. Another data point that measures how much homeowners would pay in equivalent rent if they had not bought their home climbed 0.5% from the previous month. 

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PLUMMETS TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2007 AS PRICES JUMP

Food has been one of the most visceral reminders of red-hot inflation for Americans. In July, the cost of groceries increased for the third straight month, reversing earlier declines.

Grocery prices climbed 0.3% over the course of the month, according to the data. On an annual basis, prices remain up 3.6% compared with the same time last year.

Consumers paid more for a number of items in July, with the price rising for hot dogs (2.7%), beef and veal (2.4%), apples (2.4%), oranges (1.6%), coffee (1%), rice (0.9%) cookies (0.8%), ham (0.6%) and fresh vegetables including potatoes (0.7%) and tomatoes (0.4%). 

There were some substantial declines in food prices last month. The cost of eggs, which surged earlier this year amid an outbreak of the avian flu, dropped 2.2% in July. The price of eggs is now down 13.7% when compared with the same time last year.

The price of chicken, fresh fish and seafood also posted notable declines. 

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Energy prices increased again in July, rising 0.1% over the course of the month. That included a 0.2% rise in gasoline. 

However, gas prices are down 19.9% compared with the same time last year, when the average cost for a gallon of regular was running around $4.01.

Economists expect to see an additional increase in the cost of gasoline in the August CPI report, due in early September, as the price of oil marches higher following supply cuts by OPEC+.

The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline was about $3.82 on Thursday, according to AAA, up more than 4% from the same time one month ago. 

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“It was somewhat surprising to see gasoline prices up just 0.2% in the July report, with AAA reporting a big increase in the national average price in the latter half of the month,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank. “Gasoline will drive higher CPI inflation in August.”

There was some good news for Americans looking to buy a car in June. 

Used car and truck prices, which have been a major component of the inflation increase, fell 1.3% over the month and are down 5.6% compared with the same time one year ago.

The cost of new cars and trucks also ticked lower, falling 0.1% in July From the previous year, new vehicle prices are up 3.5%.

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Airline fares fell again in July, with prices dropping 8.1% from June. Tickets are down about 18.6% compared with last year, according to the data.

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