NASHVILLE (AP) — State officials are urging Tennessee residents to verify the licenses of potential home contractors to avoid possible scams.

Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said in a statement this week the state has had stormy weather in recent days that may cause damage and draw the attention of "unscrupulous" contractors.

She advised homeowners to verify the licensure of purported contractors by using the department's license database at verify.tn.gov.

State officials say residents should be skeptical if an alleged contractor shows up without an appointment claiming to have noticed damage to their roof or property.