LOUISIANA (KLFY) -- Louisiana officials say residents need to keep an eye out for fraudulent contractors, saying national disasters like Hurricane Francine are an open door for fake service providers to take advantage of homeowners.

Attorney General Liz Murrill offers the following advice on what to keep in mind when hiring a contractor:

Look out for requests for payment in cash and upfront

"Sometimes contractors will ask you for money, if somebody is coming around and they are offering to do work for you and they're asking for you for cash up front, that's a big red flag," Murrill said.

Verify the contractor's license

"We want to make sure that they give you proof that they are licensed and insured, any contractor ought to be licensed by the contractors licensing board, and they should also have an occupational license for the parish in which they are working", said Murrill.

Keep a written contract

"You want to make sure that you both have the same understanding of what work is expected to be done, what the time frame is that you expect it to be, and what the prices that you are willing to pay for it, and how much it's going to cost if you make any changes to that agreement", said Murrill.

Do NOT pay in cash

Murill said having a written contract is one way to have evidence of the partnership. Another way is to ensure that the transactions are recorded by using payment methods like a credit card or checks. Don't use cash if possible.

"We also suggest that you pay with a credit card if you can or with a check if you can, even a money order. You just want to keep proof of your payment," Murrill said.

If you believe you were scammed by a fake contractor, contact your local law enforcement.

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