Florida AG McCollum Issues Consumer Advisory on First Day of Hurricane Season

Attorney General warns about price gouging, identity theft; reminds Floridians of services available during recovery

June 1, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Recognizing the first day of the 2007 Hurricane Season, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory calling on residents and visitors alike to be aware of the dangers the storm season can bring and urging Floridians to make necessary preparations well in advance.

"Safety is first and foremost. I encourage every individual in our state to be prepared early for the storms this hurricane season and not wait until one is upon us," said Attorney General McCollum. "Additionally, Florida citizens should be aware that while identity theft or price gouging sometimes occur during recovery efforts, the Office of the Attorney General is committed to protecting our residents from anyone who attempts to victimize them in the wake of a disaster.”

Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency. Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period. In addition to the civil penalties for price gouging, state law criminalizes the sale of goods and services to the public without possession of an occupational license. Violators of the law can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor. Price gouging should be reported to the Attorney General’s hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226).

Attorney General McCollum also reminded residents and guests that while price gouging is an issue more commonly associated with hurricanes, identity theft and other scams deserve attention as well. Floridians should take the necessary precautions to safeguard personal documents or other important information. Often in the wake of natural disasters, papers containing personally identifiable information are misplaced or fall into the wrong hands, complicating the recovery process and putting citizens at risk for identity theft. Scam artists may also attempt to defraud hurricane victims by “selling” products or services they never intend to deliver.

In addition to protecting Florida’s residents and guests from any civil infraction that may occur after a storm or a disaster, the Attorney General’s Office offers other services to assist during recovery efforts. Following a disaster, teams of Medicaid Fraud investigators visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities to make sure residents are safe and have electricity to run medical equipment and keep medications refrigerated. These teams also ensure that elderly residents are being properly cared for by licensed and capable individuals at the appropriate care facilities.

Another community service provided by the Attorney General’s Office is the Crisis Response Initiative, created in 2003 in partnership with the Florida Crisis Response Team. The team is comprised of approximately 800 crisis responders statewide including victim service professionals, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, mental health professionals, nurses, other allied professionals and community members. The team, whose primary role in the aftermath of a disaster is to provide early psychological first aid, is available to respond to all community tragedies, including natural disasters. Crisis responders provide essential emotional support and advocacy to all high-risk populations impacted by the event. Additionally, team members assist community leaders in planning for the short-term and long-term needs of the community and will also train local caregivers in immediate crisis intervention. The crisis response teams specialize in offering assistance to those not able to seek aid or who may be reticent to do so, such as the elderly population, impoverished communities or migrant worker communities. In these situations, the team members are often the first responders with whom victims have contact and therefore assist in locating basic needs such as food, water, clothing and shelter in addition to emotional support.

More information about services available to Floridians following a natural disaster is available on the Attorney General’s website at http://wwwmyfloridalegal.com

Source: Florida Attorney General