As businesses rebuild what was lost and purchase new items after the floods, we urge businesses to engage trusted contacts to help consider the next steps and to help make informed decisions. Businesses with concerns can reach out to the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) for help. Vermont businesses are covered by our state’s consumer protection law and CAP is a helpful resource available to businesses. CAP’s Small Business Advocate can assist businesses with any questions relating to consumer purchases and consumer complaint mediation.
First and foremost, businesses must document everything. Take pictures and write down all actions you are taking. This step will be integral in applying for relief and insurance claims down the road.
Making Repairs to your Business:
Below are a few tips to follow before making changes to your business as you repair and rebuild what was damaged in the flood.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and do not make any permanent changes to your business until you get approval from your insurance company.
Beware of dubious contractors that may appear with promises to restore damages immediately in exchange for immediate payment. Never pay in full upfront for a commercial project. Make sure you have a contract. Before working with a contractor, always check the Attorney General’s Home Improvement Fraud Registry and residential contractor registration status with the Office of Professional Regulation in the Vermont Secretary of State’s office.
Contact the Consumer Assistance Program by phone at (800) 649-2424 or by email at ago.smallbusiness@vermont.gov for questions relating to hiring a commercial contractor.
Legal Assistance:
Small businesses may also need the advice or services of an attorney. Below are legal resources available to small businesses during this time.
Vermont Bar Association (VBA) offers low-cost consultations. A lawyer will provide a 30-minute consultation for $25 to help answer questions. You can reach the Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 639-7036 Monday-Friday 8am – 4pm. Please visit vtbar.org for updates.
Small Business Legal Assistance Project offers support and outreach on legal topics impacting diverse and disadvantaged businesses and business owners in Vermont.
Beware of Disaster Relief Scams:
The Consumer Assistance Program is warning Vermonters and small businesses to beware of disaster-relief scams and price gouging. Scammers may impersonate FEMA or the State of Vermont. To learn more about these scams, please review CAP’s Avoid Scams and Fraud During Flood Recovery blog post.
How to Contact the Small Business Advocate:
If you have any questions on the above related material, please contact Emily McDonnell, Small Business Advocate at ago.smallbusiness@vermont.gov or call CAP at (800) 649-2424.
Many Vermonters are going through a traumatic period. If you or someone you know is having a hard time with the emotional impact of this crisis, you can call or text the National Disaster Stress Hotline, (800) 985-5990, or 9-8-8. You are not alone.
Vermont law specifies which products may be labeled and marketed with terms such as “locally grown” and “made in Vermont.” This law is important to protect the integrity and name recognition of the Vermont brand. If your business is intending to use the Vermont name when labeling or branding products, be sure to check out this helpful guidance and review the following rules.
Small Business Flood Relief Resources and Action Steps graphic.
On behalf of the entire Vermont Attorney General’s Office, our thoughts are with those affected by this summer’s flooding.
As businesses rebuild what was lost and purchase new items after the floods, we urge businesses with concerns to reach out to the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) for help. Vermont businesses are covered by our state’s consumer protection law and CAP is a helpful resource available to businesses. CAP’s Small Business Advocate can assist businesses with any questions relating to consumer purchases and consumer complaint mediation.
Our office has created a list of resources and action steps for businesses that have been impacted by the flood.
First and foremost, businesses must document everything. Take pictures and write down all actions you are taking. This step will be integral in applying for relief and insurance claims down the road. If you have not already, report your damage and unmet needs to the designated Vermont 2-1-1 Flood Damage-Business Form. 2-1-1 is currently cataloging damage and identifying areas and locations that need assistance.
Making Repairs to your Business:
Below are a few tips to follow before making changes to your business as you repair and rebuild what was damaged in the flood.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and do not make any permanent changes to your business until you get approval from your insurance company.
Beware of dubious contractors that may appear with promises to restore damages immediately in exchange for immediate payment. Never pay in full upfront for a commercial project. Make sure you have a contract. Before working with a contractor, always check the Attorney General’s Home Improvement Fraud Registry and residential contractor registration status with the Office of Professional Regulation in the Vermont Secretary of State’s office.
Contact the Consumer Assistance Program by phone at (800) 649-2424 or by email at ago.smallbusiness@vermont.gov for questions relating to hiring a commercial contractor.
Legal Assistance:
Small businesses may also need the advice or services of an attorney. Below are legal resources available to small businesses during this time.
Vermont Bar Association (VBA) is offering low-cost consultations. A lawyer will provide a 30-minute consultation for $25 to help answer questions. You can reach the Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 639-7036 Monday-Friday 8am – 4pm or businesses can directly request services here: tinyurl.com/23floodvtbizlegal. VBA is coordinating landlord/tenant lawyers to draft a short guide on the responsibilities of landlords and tenants during this time. Please visit vtbar.org for updates.
Small Business Legal Assistance Project offers support and outreach on legal topics impacting diverse and disadvantaged businesses and business owners in Vermont.
FEMA Disaster Legal Services (DLS) provides free legal help to low-income disaster survivors (individuals and small businesses). If you’re not able to get adequate legal services for your disaster-related needs, DLS may be able to help. Call (800) 621-3362 for service. If you use a video relay service, captioned phone, or other communication service, give FEMA the number for that service.
Financial Assistance- Grants and Community Funds:
There are grants and community funds available for businesses who have been impacted by flooding.
Restaurants impacted by the flood who: – Operate a brick-and-mortar location – Own a maximum of three locations, and employ fewer than 50 employees per location – Have been open for at least six months -Have revenues of $3M or less per location in the last 12 months
Eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations can get help with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster.
Businesses who apply for the SBA loan and are approved are not obliged to take the loan.
The Vermont State Employee Credit Union (VSECU) is offering low-interest loans for small businesses affected by flood water damage. The loan provides near-term working capital to help with clean-up efforts, real estate repair, equipment replacement, inventory replacement, and other qualifying uses. To learn more about VSECU business loans, visit the VSECU Business Banking page. One does not need to be a state employee to bank at the Vermont State Employee Credit Union.
As a reminder, before applying for any loan, businesses should always consult with a professional and review their business credit situation carefully.
Assistance for Farmers:
If you are a Vermont farmer impacted by flooding, there are resources available to you.
Organic and NOFA-VT member farmers who have been adversely affected by natural and unnatural disasters, such as: – Crop failure – Extreme weather – Flooding – Fire – Barn collapse – Financial hardship as the price of organic milk continues to drop
Must be a Vermont farmer or food producer who has suffered a devastating loss due to an unexpected natural disaster that puts their farm or farming career in danger; covers buildings, animals, equipment, greenhouses, and hay fields.
Beware of Disaster Relief Scams:
The Consumer Assistance Program is warning Vermonters and small businesses to beware of disaster-relief scams and price gouging. Scammers may impersonate FEMA or the State of Vermont. To learn more about these scams, please review CAP’s Vermont Flood Recovery: Beware of Scams and Price Gouging blog post.
How to Contact the Small Business Advocate:
If you have any questions on the above related material, please contact Emily McDonnell, Small Business Advocate at ago.smallbusiness@vermont.gov or call CAP at (800) 649-2424.
Many Vermonters are going through a traumatic period. If you or someone you know is having a hard time with the emotional impact of this crisis, you can call or text the National Disaster Stress Hotline, (800) 985-5990, or 9-8-8. You are not alone.
Due to the extreme rainfall and flooding across the state, the White House issued a state of emergency for Vermont, which authorizes FEMA to support impacted Vermont counties in recovery efforts. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of people’s heightened emotional state following disasters, and the Vermont Consumer Assistance Program wants you to be aware of targeted disaster relief scams to avoid while our communities recover from the flooding.
Government imposter relief scams may claim to be FEMA or the State of Vermont. FEMA scams manifest as fraudulent inspectors that request fees for service, or administrative personnel that call to “verify” your information but are phishingfor your personal information. Such relief help scams may even claim they can speed up your FEMA relief application for a fee.
Avoid this scam: Connect with FEMA directly online: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/3595 and continue to follow updates from the Vermont’s congressional delegation, the Governor and Vermont Emergency Management.
Phony charities that solicit funds claiming to support recovery efforts. The Vermont way is to help our neighbors. We all want to help, whether it is through volunteering or donating money. Sadly, scammers use the same contact methods as legitimate charities (phone, online, mail).
Dubious contractors may appear with promises to restore damages immediately in exchange for immediate payment. Such contractors urge you to act fast, may offer lower prices, and do not have credentials—though they might say they are “registered and insured,” these are unverified statements.
Avoid this scam: Vermonters must be extra critical about hiring home improvement contractors. Never pay in full upfront for a home improvement project. Make sure you have a contract. Check residential contractor registration status with the VT Office of Professional Regulation in the Secretary of State.
Please watch out for these scams and report businesses that set unconscionable price hikes on essential items, like bottled water. If you experience this practice, please report instances of price gouging to the Consumer Assistance Program by phone at 800-649-2424 or online at ago.vermont.gov/cap
BURLINGTON – The Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) is warning Vermont business owners, non-profits, and employees about an uptick in business imposter email scams. In the last two months, CAP has received five reports of business imposter email scams resulting in a total loss of $210,799. Scammers are impersonating employees or familiar business representatives’ emails and contacting company bookkeepers and office administrators asking them to change bank account information, direct deposit information, or asking them to write checks. By impersonating an employee’s email address or creating a fake personal email for the employee, scammers can steal money from businesses and steal paychecks from employees.
Business Imposter Loss – Vermont – July and August 2022
Vermont businesses and non-profits should always verify email addresses and speak directly with an employee or business representative in person or via phone when sending money or changing payment information. Oftentimes, scammers will use an email address that only slightly varies from an employee’s true email. Be wary of any email coming from outside your company’s domain. CAP urges business owners to educate their entire company on scams that target businesses.
Here are ways in which businesses and non-profits can better protect themselves and their employees from scams:
Cybersecurity assessment: check internal controls and resolve vulnerabilities.
Train staff regularly in cybersecurity and funds management protocols.
Enlist internal protocols to verify the transfer of funds by engaging multiple staff members and voice verification, using trusted contact information.
Help clientele identify common scams within the industry.
TheSLOW method can serve as a helpful starting point, encouraging parties to take their time during urgent transactions and connect with a trusted party like CAP.
If you or someone you know has lost money to this scam, contact law enforcement and report the scam to CAP online or call 1-800-649-2424 and speak to our Small Business Advocate.
