Hurricane Dorian price gouging reports by county
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Florida Attorney General received nearly 3,000 reports of suspected price gouging before and during Hurricane Dorian.
"My Consumer Protection Division will continue to review complaints and take appropriate action to ensure anyone taking advantage of Floridians is held responsible," Attorney General Ashley Moody said.
It is a crime in Florida to inflate the price of essential goods like food, water, and gasoline during a State of Emergency.
According to the AG's office, consumers reported hundreds of gas stations apparently raising the price of fuel, and many other businesses charging high prices for bottled water.
In one photo provided by the AG, a gas station was advertising $9 for a case of bottled water right before the hurricane.
That case of water ordinarily costs $4.
The latest numbers from the AG's office show: 2,994 reports of alleged price gouging, more than 180 visits by AG investigators to reported businesses, approximately $1,200 in refunds as a result of investigations, with more than 80 percent of all reports concerning fuel and water prices.
CBS12 News Investigates obtained a county-by-county breakdown of price gouging reports in South Florida:
- Broward County: 359 price gouging complaints
- Palm Beach County: 337 complaints
- Miami Dade County: 329 complaints
- St. Lucie County: 49 complaints
- Indian River County: 38 complaints
- Martin County: 26 complaints
- Okeechobee County: 5 complaints
Broward County not only had the highest number of price gouging reports in South Florida -- it is also the highest number in the entire state of Florida.
Orange County is a close second, with 358 complaints about price increases there.
Florida is still under a state of emergency and the AG's Price Gouging Hotline remains active.
Callers can report price gouging at 866-9NO-SCAM or by downloading the NO SCAM app.
