Rebuilding after Irene? Watch for contractor scams

FILE – In this file photo taken Aug. 30, 2011, a house rests in mud after it was destroyed by Hurricane Irene Sunday in Pittsfield, Vt. Many homeowners who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Irene will have to hire a contractor to help them make repairs and clean their homes. They’re a vulnerable group and easy prey for scam artists. A look at what consumers should ask before they hire a contractor is reported Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, by The Associated Press, Personal Finance Writer Eileen AJ Connelly. (AP Photo/The Rutland Herald, Vyto Starinskas, File) MANDATORY CREDIT