As you head to the stores to buy supplies as Hurricane Matthew approaches the state, our attorney general wants you to be aware of price gouging.
To protect you from businesses looking to take advantage, attorney general Pam Bondi has activated Florida's Price Gouging Hotline.
Anyone who suspects a scam can call 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Florida law states that during a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell commodities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days before the declaration of the state of emergency, unless the seller can justifying the price by showing increases in its prices or market trends.
Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber.
