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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Today, at a press conference in West Palm Beach, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis launched the 'Check My Contract' portal to fight post-storm fraud following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Florida Department of Financial Services' (DFS) 'Check My Contract' portal is designed to assist residential or commercial property insurance policyholders who have entered into a repair contract with contractors, restoration professionals, or public adjusters related to an insurance claim. Check My Contract allows these policyholders to submit repair contracts to DFS for independent review to gather any potential evidence of insurance fraud against Florida policyholders, especially following storms, and ensure the contract complies with Florida Law. Click HERE to watch the entire press conference aired live on X.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Every hurricane has taught us valuable lessons on protecting and supporting Florida policyholders as you work to recover and heal following storms. Unfortunately, post-storm fraud is an epidemic in our state, and I will not stand by and let our communities be victimized first by the storm damage and then again by bad actors looking to make a quick buck. That's why I'm proud to launch the Department of Financial Services free 'Check My Contract' portal to allow residential and commercial property insurance policyholders to submit their repair contracts following a storm to DFS to ensure they comply with Florida Law. If the contract is deemed out of line with state law or an illegal Assignment of Benefits contract, we'll give the policyholder the tools needed to cancel it. This portal will also allow my fraud investigators to determine if there are any bad actors committing systemic fraud in our communities following storms and then hold them accountable. Visit PrepareFL.com to learn more about the Check My Contract portal and submit your repair contract today."

Insurance Consumer Advocate Tasha Carter said, “Protecting consumers from insurance fraud is of the utmost importance to both CFO Patronis and me. While the disaster recovery process can be challenging, the Check My Contract service empowers consumers to make informed insurance decisions with the knowledge that their contracts are legitimate and comply with state law. The service also allows the Department to take action against unscrupulous actors looking to commit insurance fraud, particularly following a hurricane. I urge consumers to take advantage of this beneficial and free service.”

Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs said, "Honoring our commitment to our communities means standing firm against fraud, especially following storms. Thank you to CFO Patronis and his team for providing real opportunities for genuine recovery without the interference of fraud or scams."

Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter said, "In the aftermath of storms, communities need to know that we have their backs as they work to recover. We cannot allow fraud or scams to deny our residents an opportunity to heal. Thank you to the CFO and his team for keeping a close eye out for fraud and bringing these vital state resources to Palm Beach County."

Palm Beach County Fire Chief Patrick Kennedy said, "Post-storm vulnerability shouldn't lead to exploitation. We must keep a close eye on our communities during this time to ensure they are not targeted by post-storm fraudsters looking to profit off of this damage. Thank you to CFO Patronis and the Department of Financial Services for providing these resources to the Palm Beach Community."

Regarding Insurance Assistance

CFO Patronis said, "There are communities all over the state that are hurting right now and we’ve worked around the clock to provide resources to get them back on their feet. Last week, we hosted insurance villages that recovered about $3.2 million on behalf of roughly 2,400 policyholders. If you or a loved one has an insurance claim and needs assistance, please call my office at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) to speak to an insurance specialist."

Regarding Post-Storm Fraud

CFO Patronis continued, "Since Helene and Milton made landfall, we mobilized 130 fraud detectives around our state to go door-to-door in impacted communities to be on the lookout for fraudsters and unlicensed activity. Every day, bad actors in our communities are looking to make a quick buck off this storm by trying to take over your insurance claim. It can happen to anyone. If you see something suspicious, report it immediately by visiting PrepareFL.com. Don’t sign anything, and don’t let anyone come between you and your insurance claim."

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).