Roof scams are more common than most homeowners realize, and Long Island is no exception. Most of the tactics are predictable once you know what to look for. This guide walks you through the most common roofing scams, the warning signs that a contractor is not who they claim to be, and exactly what to do to protect your home and your wallet.
Highlights
- Storm chasers and door-to-door roofers are a red flag.
- Always get at least three bids and get your roofing estimate in writing before any work begins.
- Ask for proof of insurance and license before signing anything.
- Never pay a large down payment upfront.
- Use the Better Business Bureau, Google Reviews, and local licensing boards to verify any roofer before hiring.
- If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is
What Are the Most Common Roofing Scams?
Before you learn how to avoid roofing scams, it helps to understand the playbook scammers use. Most roof scams fall into a handful of predictable categories: fake storm damage, low bids that balloon later, missing license and insurance, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for cash or a large deposit upfront. Long Island homeowners have been hit with all of them, sometimes losing tens of thousands of dollars in a single transaction.
About a year ago, Rockland County officials warned residents that scammers impersonated a reputable roofing company called Gikas Roofing, tricking one homeowner into signing a $78,000 contract for fraudulent roof repairs and convincing an elderly woman to pay $60,000 for a roof replacement she did not need (ABC7 New York). These are not isolated incidents. Knowing the common roofing scams is your first line of defense.
The Storm Chaser Scam: Why a Roofer Who Knocks on Your Door Is a Red Flag
A storm chaser is a contractor who follows severe weather events, traveling into affected areas to drum up emergency business. We don’t get these as often, but it does happen (especially after a nor’easter). They will tell you they spotted roof damage from the street, that they are already working on a neighbor’s home, or that they can offer you a special deal today only.
In February 2024, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly publicly warned Long Island homeowners about door-to-door roofing crews who were not just exaggerating damage but actually climbing onto roofs and creating damage themselves. One Greenvale homeowner nearly paid $20,000 to fix a hole the contractors made while supposedly inspecting his father’s roof (CBS New York). Nassau County Police 1st Deputy Commissioner Kevin Smith put it plainly: legitimate contractors do not go door to door asking if you want roof work.
Any roofer who knocks on your door after a storm should be vetted with serious caution. Your first call after storm damage should always be to your homeowner’s insurance company, not an unsolicited contractor. An adjuster will assess the damage and tell you what your policy will cover before you hire anyone.
Should You Be Worried About an Extremely Low Bid?
A low bid from a roofing contractor can feel like a win, but it is often a sign of a roofing scam in progress. Most roofing contractors in the same market deal with identical prices of materials and comparable labor rates. When one company comes in 30% to 40% below every other estimate, something is missing: often the license, the insurance, quality underlayment, or even basic safety training for the crew.
It’s a classic scam: the low bid expands. A contractor wins the job with an attractive number and then discovers “unexpected” damage once work begins, steadily adding costs until the final bill looks nothing like the original roofing estimate. To protect yourself, always get at least three bids and ask each roofer to detail the scope of work, including the specific roofing material, underlayment type, and any included plywood replacement. A trustworthy contractor will put every line item in writing.
Red Flags vs. What Reputable Contractors Do
| Red Flag | What a Reputable Contractor Does Instead |
|---|---|
| Bid is dramatically lower than competitors | Provides a detailed, itemized written estimate |
| Refuses to put the estimate in writing | Supplies a full written contract before work begins |
| Asks for a large down payment (over 15%) | Collects a reasonable deposit or none at all |
| Cannot provide proof of license and insurance | Shares license number and certificate of insurance freely |
| Pressures you to sign immediately | Gives you time to compare bids and ask questions |
| Asks to be paid in cash only | Accepts check or credit card with a documented payment schedule |
Tip: Swipe left/right to view the full table on mobile.
No License and No Insurance? Walk Away
On Long Island, a roofing contractor must hold the proper county Home Improvement license for the area where the work is being done. Hiring an unlicensed roofer means you have no legal recourse if the workmanship fails or if a worker is injured on your property.
Always ask for proof of insurance before any roof work begins. Specifically, ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation, issued directly from the insurer to you as the homeowner. If a contractor cannot produce these documents on request, that is a clear sign of a roofing scam or, at minimum, a contractor you should not hire.
What Does a Roofing Scam Contract Look Like?
Working without a contract is one of the clearest signs of a roofing scam. A legitimate contractor will always provide a written contract before starting, one that covers the full scope of work, materials to be used, payment schedule, project timeline, and what happens if additional issues are discovered mid-project.
Scam artists either skip the contract entirely or present vague one-page agreements that leave all the important details undefined. If a roofer says you do not need to sign a contract or insists that a handshake is good enough, find someone else. When you do review a contract, make sure it specifies the roofing material brand and model, the type of underlayment, the number of plywood sheets included, permit responsibilities, and a clear payment schedule. If anything is missing, ask for it in writing before you proceed.
Also watch for contractors who ask you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AoB) early in the process. This document transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor, giving them direct access to your insurance company to see what they will pay and potentially inflate the claim.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics: When a Roofer Pressures You to Sign
High-pressure sales tactics are a warning sign that something is wrong. A legitimate roofer understands that a roof replacement or roof repair is a significant financial decision and will give you the time you need to compare bids and review the contract. If a contractor insists the price is only available today, that materials are running out, or that waiting another day will cost you thousands more, treat that urgency as a red flag.
One common tactic is for a salesperson to arrive at your home and refuse to leave until you sign something, framing any hesitation as you making a mistake. Reputable contractors do not operate this way. If a roofer pressures you to sign before you have had a chance to review a written estimate, get a second opinion, or verify their credentials, politely decline and contact a different company. A good contractor will still be available tomorrow.
Is a Large Down Payment a Warning Sign?
Asking for a large deposit upfront is one of the oldest tricks in the contractor scam playbook. Once a scammer has your money, they have little incentive to complete the job well or at all.
If a contractor demands 50% or even the full payment before a single shingle goes on your roof, walk away. Pay by check or credit card (never cash), and tie final payment to satisfactory completion of the work. Reputable roofing companies also have great financing options.
How Do You Check a Roofer’s Reputation Online?
Before hiring a roofer, spend 15 minutes researching their reputation online. Start with Google Reviews and look for patterns in the negative reviews, not just the overall star rating.
Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) at bbb.org for any formal complaints or unresolved disputes. Search the New York State Attorney General’s website for any enforcement actions against the company. Also search the company name alongside words like “scam” or “complaint” to surface any issues that did not make it onto review platforms. Successful roofing contractors who have been operating on Long Island for years will have a verifiable presence: a real physical address, consistent reviews across multiple platforms, and no pattern of negative reviews around unfinished work or billing disputes.
If a roofing company has no online presence, no reviews, and only a phone number, that is a potential scam. Scammers sometimes create temporary websites and fake addresses to appear legitimate, so look for signs of longevity: years in business, a portfolio of completed projects, and named employees you can verify.
What to Do if You Suspect a Roofing Scam
If you believe you are being targeted by a roofing scam, stop the interaction immediately. Do not sign anything, and do not pay anything. Gather whatever documentation you have from the contractor: business cards, written estimates, texts, and any receipts.
Report the incident to the Nassau County or Suffolk County Department of Consumer Affairs, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and your local police precinct. If you already paid by credit card, contact your card issuer to dispute the charge. If you paid by check, contact your bank immediately. Then, contact your insurance company to see what coverage they offer for contractor fraud, and hire a legitimate local roofer to assess any actual roof damage that needs addressing.
You can also file a complaint with the BBB and leave a review online to warn other homeowners in your area. Roofing companies and contractors who run scams rely on homeowners staying quiet out of embarrassment. Reporting protects you and your neighbors.
How to Find a Reliable Roofing Contractor on Long Island
Finding a reliable roofing contractor comes down to doing your homework before any work begins. Ask for references from recent local jobs and actually call them. Ask for references from at least two or three recent customers and find out whether the project was completed on time, whether the final bill matched the estimate, and whether they would hire the company again.
A trustworthy contractor will hold the appropriate license, carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation, provide a detailed written contract, and give you time to review everything without pressure. Look for roofing companies with verifiable long-term experience on Long Island. Companies that have completed thousands of jobs in Nassau and Suffolk Counties over many years will have the knowledge of local climate conditions, building codes, and permit requirements that out-of-area contractors simply do not have.
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