Is that roof inspection phone call a scam?
Short answer. Often, yes. Unsolicited calls and robocalls offering a free roof inspection, a neighborhood storm program, or a roof paid for by insurance are a common scam and lead-selling tactic. A legitimate roofer will not ask for your policy number, Social Security number, or payment over the phone, and will give you a company name and address you can check yourself.
Scripts these calls commonly use
- "We are calling on behalf of your insurance company" or "the county" about storm damage in your area.
- "Your home has been approved for a free roof replacement."
- "We need to confirm your policy number and carrier to schedule your inspection."
- "Inspectors are only in your neighborhood today."
Insurers do not cold-call homeowners to schedule a roofer, and local governments do not run free roof programs by phone. A call like this is either harvesting your information, selling your appointment to whichever contractor pays, or setting up a high-pressure door visit.
What to do
- Do not confirm your address, insurer, policy number, mortgage company, or any financial details.
- Hang up and look up roofers yourself. Check reviews, a physical address, and the business record on the Georgia Secretary of State's site.
- Never sign anything that assigns your insurance benefits to a contractor. Georgia's SB 201 makes taking an assignment of a homeowner's insurance proceeds within one year of a declared natural disaster an unfair practice.
- Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry and report robocalls to the FTC. Georgia consumers can also report deceptive practices to the Consumer Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Law.
If the call made you wonder about your roof
Storms do hit North Georgia often, so the question may be worth answering on your terms. Choose a local roofer you researched, ask for photos of anything they find, and decide about a claim after you see evidence. For vetting tips, read how to choose a roofing contractor in Georgia and how storm-chaser scams work in Georgia.