Reporting Hurricane Related Scams
and Price Gouging
The Texas Attorney General’s Office
has set up a hotline and email address for consumers to report possible scams
or price gouging that occurred during or after Hurricane Harvey. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection
Division investigates these claims and files civil lawsuits under the Deceptive
Trade Practices Act and other consumer protection statutes.
The Texas Deceptive Trade
Practices-Consumer Protection Act provides that it is a false, misleading, or
deceptive act or practice to take advantage of a disaster declared by the
Governor by:
§ selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, or another
necessity at an exorbitant or excess price, or
§ demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in connection
with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine or another necessity.
The Governor has declared a disaster
due to Hurricane Harvey.
If you suspect a business is price
gouging or have encountered scam contractors, call the Texas Attorney General’s
Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508
or email consumeremergency@oag.texas.gov.