As Hurricane Milton nears landfall in western Florida on Wednesday, the Biden administration Warning to consumers Businesses at increased risk of potential fraud, price gouging, and collusion associated with large-scale natural disasters.
“From hotels to groceries to gasoline, we have heard alarming reports of price gouging on essential goods that people need to escape danger,” Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan said in a statement Wednesday. ” he said.
By noon ET Wednesday, nearly a quarter of Florida gas stations were out of gas. According to Patrick de Haanan oil and gas analyst who tracks pump supplies.
“Companies are being careful not to use the hurricane as an excuse to exploit people for illegal activities,” said Manish Kumar, assistant attorney general in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.
Most states have laws aimed at curbing price gouging. These limits are tied to To declare a state of emergency.
“Bad actors seek to exploit the opportunities and victims of natural disasters for personal gain,” Ronald C. Gass Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, said in a statement.
Several major airlines and retailers told CNBC in recent days that they had frozen prices ahead of the storm.
“Once we have an emergency, all prices are frozen,” Kelly Mayhall, president of Home Depot’s southern division, told CNBC on Wednesday.
In the midst of a historic hurricane season, the Biden administration quoted There are a number of issues consumers should be aware of, including fraudulent charities claiming to collect donations for disaster victims, scammers attempting to obtain personal information or money, and exorbitant pricing of essential goods.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement Wednesday that “companies and individuals who seek to exploit Americans during emergencies will continue to monitor the administration for allegations of fraud and price gouging, and will hold accountable those who take advantage of the situation.” You should know that.”
Hurricane Milton was moving through the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 4 storm early Wednesday afternoon and was expected to make landfall on Florida’s western Gulf Coast between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET, according to NBC News meteorologists.
The National Hurricane Center warned that evacuations and other precautions should be completed by early Wednesday morning.
In September, Hurricane Helen caused widespread damage across the South, killing more than 230 people. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein warned Price gouging is happening in his state.
