When the Snow Falls, the Scammers Show Up

By Greg Collier

If you spent the past weekend digging out from snow, ice, or power outages, you weren’t alone. A massive winter storm stretched across much of the country, knocking out power, damaging homes, and leaving millions stressed, cold, and looking for help.

And right on schedule, the scammers arrived.

The Better Business Bureau is warning that fraudsters are actively targeting winter storm victims, using power outages, disaster relief, and emergency repairs as cover for fast-moving scams

It’s a playbook that gets rolled out nationally after every major weather event.

What’s Going On

According to the BBB, scammers reliably swarm after disasters—whether it’s hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or winter storms.

This time, the storm created the perfect conditions:

  • Widespread power outages
  • Delayed repairs
  • Government disaster talk
  • People desperate to get heat and electricity back on

Scammers exploit urgency. They always do.

The Scams to Watch For

Power Company Impersonation Scams

One of the most common post-storm scams involves fake calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from your electric or gas company.

The script usually goes like this:

  • You’re told your bill is unpaid
  • You’re warned service will be shut off immediately
  • You’re pressured to pay right now

And here’s the giveaway:

They demand payment via cryptocurrency, prepaid gift cards, or other non-traceable methods.

BBB officials stress that real utility companies do not do this, and they don’t cold-call customers demanding instant payment

If you get one of these messages, hang up and contact your utility company directly using the number on your bill or official website.

FEMA & Disaster Relief Impersonation

Another classic move: fake disaster relief.

Scammers pose as FEMA or other government agencies, claiming you “qualify” for storm assistance and just need to provide:

  • Personal information
  • Banking details
  • Or a “processing fee”

This is a scam.

Government disaster relief does not require upfront payments, and agencies won’t randomly contact you asking for sensitive information

If someone contacts you out of the blue promising “free” government money, take that with a very large grain of salt.

Contractor & Repair Scams

After storms, contractors are in high demand—and scammers know it.

Red flags include:

  • Demanding all cash
  • Asking for full payment up front
  • Refusing to show insurance or references
  • Skipping written contracts

The BBB recommends:

  • Asking for proof of liability insurance
  • Getting multiple estimates
  • Getting everything in writing before work begins

Storm damage makes people desperate. Scammers count on that desperation to rush bad decisions.

General Red Flags

Here’s the simple rule scammers hate:

Urgency + secrecy = scam

If someone insists:

  • You must act now
  • You can’t verify independently
  • You must pay in unusual ways

Stop. Slow down. Verify.

If You’ve Been Targeted

  • Contact your utility company or agency directly using official contact info
  • Do not click links or respond to unexpected messages
  • Report scams to the BBB Scam Tracker
  • Use BBB’s accredited business listings when hiring contractors

Final Thoughts

Snowstorms don’t just knock out power; they knock out people’s sense of stability. Scammers know that, and they weaponize it.

Every major weather event brings the same predators, running the same cons, on a national scale.

Stay skeptical. Stay slow. And remember: real help doesn’t demand panic payments.

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