AUGUSTA -- The flood waters that poured into Aroostook County left behind more than damage to homes, roads and businesses. Attorney General Steve Rowe warns they also left behind an atmosphere for scams.

"After natural disasters, door-to-door salespeople hit the street offering cleanup and repair services," Rowe said. "While many of these people are honest and reputable, some are not."

Rowe recommends that people who are insured contact their insurance adjuster to get an estimate of the repair costs and use that number as a benchmark when you hire a contractor.

For questions about home construction repair, or if you need to file a complaint, call the attorney general's Consumer Protection Division at 1 (800) 436-2131 or e-mail consumer.mediation@maine.gov.

For more information, visit http://www.maine.gov/ag/con sumer/housing/home_construc tion.shtml.