It is the unfortunate byproduct of a major storm’s effect on a city or state – price gouging. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is cautioning Georgians and evacuated Floridians here in the state to beware of unnatural price hikes and scams.

“Unfortunately, con artists will try to take advantage of those impacted by a weather-related disaster or individuals looking to donate to their neighbors in need,” says Carr in a statement. “As we continue to pray for the families and communities in the path of Tropical Storm Ian, we want to remind consumers of the important steps they can take to protect themselves from price gouging and scams. We know this is a difficult and scary time for many, and anyone who is artificially increasing costs on the backs of hardworking Georgians will be held accountable.”

The Price Gouging Statute was activated under the broader Executive Order issued by Gov. Kemp. It covers “goods and services necessary to support preparation, response and recovery activities” relating to Hurricane Ian.

Those identified goods and services cannot be sold at a price higher than what they were sold for before the emergency declaration, unless those price spikes “accurately reflect an increase in the cost of new stock or the cost to transport it…”

Situations that consumers should watch out-for include people posing as representatives for reputable charities; independent contractors who ask for full payment up front and won’t provide a written contract.

Read more from the Georgia Attorney General’s office here.

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