SCAM FIGHTERS—Deputy Attorney General Howard Wayne, left; District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner warn scam artists not to try to revictimize San Diegans who lost their homes in the fires.

SAN DIEGO—In the old movie westerns, the sheriffs used to tell the bad guys, “Get out of Dodge.”  Law enforcement officials here had similar kinds of advice for anyone thinking of taking illegal advantage of fire victims. 

“Don’t even think of think of revictimizing people here in San Diego,” warned District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.  “They have had enough.  They have lost everything.  You will be caught and you will be prosecuted.  We have no patience for individuals who are preying on families who have lost everything, who have been victimized already.”

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner said, “It is really unfortunate in these natural disasters, it is like clockwork: these scam artists from all over the state come to these areas where there has been a natural disaster preying on victims, pretending to be a contractor, claims adjustors, and we are here today to tell you that we simply are not going to put up with it.”

Deputy Attorney General Howard Wayne, a former state assemblyman, said: “In these difficult times when our community has been victimized by fire, there are those who are attempting to victimize those who have been victims. They crawl out under a rock, and they are doing their dirty things…. We look forward to working with other organizations here to prevent the victimization of San Diegans.”

The three officials, all members of the Jewish community, spoke at a news conference at San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services, where they were joined by representatives of the State Contractors Licensing Board, Department of Motor Vehicles and the County Sheriff’s office.

They announced creation of a task force to catch the scam artists in the act, and arrest and prosecute them.

Poizner and his deputy, John Standish, said 100 of the state Insurance Department’s insurance fraud detectives already have taken up their places in San Diego County waiting for the scam artists to try to con victims out of their money.

Their presence in San Diego County, according to Poizner, is part of a three-phase operation.  The first phase is outreach to victims, “where we will notify all the victims of this fire to be on the lookout for these scam artists,” he said.  The second phase “is to launch a series of sting operations, undercover operations, to catch these criminals in the act.”  The third phase will be “to publicize these arrests and we are going to nip this type of criminal behavior in the bud.”

Dumanis said that the district attorney’s office “will  proactively investigate and aggressively prosecute looters, scam artists and unlicensed contractors and unlicensed insurance adjustors who are operating here in San Diego….

“Unlicensed contractors who offer their services during this declared state of emergency face up to three years in state prison, and we will show no mercy,” said the district attorney. “This is a felony crime, not a misdemeanor, and they will be prosecuted by the district attorney’s office.

“Scam artists who set up fake charities appealing to the generosity of San Diegans will be deal with harshly…” she said.  “Working alongside state officials we’ll be rooting out and prosecuting insurance fraud. ..Our investigators will be working undercover with these agencies in each and every area—not just Rancho Bernardo, not just Ramona (two of the hardest hit areas); it is every area that has been traumatized in San Diego County…. We will be on the lookout for criminals to act….”

Wayne had three suggestions for fire victims and people who want to help them.  “Be sure when you make a contribution that the charity you contribute to is a real charity,” he said.  Beware of price gouging, he said.  “There has been a declaration of emergency issued here: prices cannot be raised more than 10 percent during that 30-day period.”  And, in the area of contractor fraud, he said, the attorney general has a toll free number (800-952-5225) to which people can report a suspected problem. 

Other helpful phone numbers and websites recommended by the news conference participants included (800) 321-CSLB to check upon a contractor; (800)-927-HELP for the “hotline” of the Department of Insurance and www.ag.ca.gov/charities to check out whether a charity is registered with the state.