SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Businesses and scammers are being warned not to take advantage of consumers by price gouging or other fraud schemes during a state of emergency, with San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan saying Wednesday that doing so can result in prosecution and jail time.
As a result of the damage and devastation caused by Monday’s storm, San Diego County has proclaimed a local emergency on behalf of the Board of Supervisors in anticipation that resources and assistance from the state and federal government may be needed
The city of San Diego also proclaimed an emergency, and Gov. Gavin Newsroom declared an emergency in the county.
During a declared state of emergency, it is illegal for a business to increase prices for essential goods or services by more than 10%, unless it can show that its own costs have been increased, Stephan said.
“The recovery process for people suffering from disasters, including their homes and businesses getting flooded, can be very difficult. We want to send a clear message that we will not tolerate any unlawful activity by greedy businesses, contractors or scammers who would seek to financially exploit victims of a disaster,” Stephan said. “Price gouging and unlicensed contracting during a state of emergency is not only a crime, it also can further victimize someone who may have already suffered a heavy loss.”