Anyone whose home was damaged in the Carr Fire should know a few things about the FEMA process to avoid being ripped off by a scam artist. The process starts by registering for assistance at the center located in the former K-Mart building on Hilltop Drive, or online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. During that process a registration number will be assigned. That number should be remembered and kept secret. The homeowner will then be contacted by an inspector to set up an on-site visit if necessary. To confirm legitimacy, the inspector can be asked to repeat the registration number. The inspector will also carry a badge, which can be requested but not photographed. There’s never any fee for the inspection and if there’s any suspicion that an inspector is not real, they should be told to leave and police should be called.