Many Valley residents are still repairing their homes after being hit by floods this month and last. Now, the City of Phoenix is trying to make sure locals aren’t victimized again — this time by scam artists.

They’re called “storm chasers." Unlicensed contractors who travel to areas that have been damaged by natural disasters and offer their services to locals. Sometimes, they simply skip town with the money. City councilwoman Kate Gallego has seen it happen to some of constituents.

"Shame on anyone who would take advantage of them, at their most vulnerable," she said at a Tuesday press conference. "Please, people, understand that these individuals, some have been flooded more than once."

Gallego recommends residents check the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website, www.azroc.gov, to see if their chosen contractor has a license and a clean complaint history.

Gallego said using a legitimate contractor won’t just protect against scammers, it helps ensure work is done correctly and is up to code.