PSA: Google Earth the address of contractors to avoid a scam

We've been trying to get our drywall fixed for two months (Today, I'm actually going to just do it myself. Let's hope the YouTube DIY videos are legit). Yesterday I tried again to just go down the list. 3 in a row – companies that actually picked up their phone – all had the same spiel – "We don't do quotes, we will send someone out now with everything they need in the truck to fix the problem without looking at it for $99 dollars plus whatever our worker charges for labor and parts"

Classic Traveller scam – they'll take your money to go get additional parts and labor, then leave never to be seen again. There's a lot of Travellers in Texas, and on top of that the sheer amount of damage that ice storm caused with pipes and drywall have got scammers setting up shop, just like with any other disaster

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So to avoid a scam, cause I know a lot of people are getting desperate to get to get repairs done

1. Google search the number. If It's not a legit business number, and just someone's cell phone, don't do it
2. Google earth the address listed. When I did this for the three companies I talked to yesterday, I got a redicare clinic, toy store and Kohls
3. Don't pay anything over the phone before someone is on site in your house. Besides the scams, we've had a lot of companies just not show up or return calls after promising to be here. Homeadvisor tried to charge me 300 dollars even though they didn't know when they would have someone available, then when I backed out of the sale, called me 9 times that afternoon and emailed me 13 before I sent an explicative laced response thats probably illegal in some states
4. Ask for insurance and business licenses. If they don't have them available or say they'll bring them later tell them to get lost
5. Not having a company logo on a shirt or vehicle is cause for suspicion
6. Most reputable companies have company vehicles with their contractor license clearly printed on them
7. The higher pressure the sales tactic is, the more likely its a scam. These people have enough work available right now that if they have to sit there and aggressively push you into a sale then something's wrong.
8. Again, no website, no landline, no legitimate physical address = scam
9. Remember, even legit companies are drowning and scraping the bottom of the barrel to get enough manpower to snatch up their piece of the pie.
10. Ladies, when someone comes to your door, never imply you're alone. Scam artists will ask innocent questions to get you to reveal if you're there alone and get really aggressive. If they ask you if your husband is home, just say he's sleeping. Or say "I've got it!" when walking to the door. Or just sit there cleaning a shotgun and mutter something about running out of space in the back yard to bury things.