The Riverside County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation has established a hotline to report suspected price gouging during the state of emergency declared in the aftermath of the Los Angeles area fires, including the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency statewide on January 7.
The hotline serves as a vital tool to protect consumers from exploitative pricing practices during a state of emergency. Anyone who suspects price gouging by a person or business can contact the Consumer Protection Price Gouging Hotline at 888-814-8450. The hotline also accepts reports in Spanish. To submit a complaint online, click here.
Price gouging is illegal and happens when a person or business tries to take advantage of consumers by raising prices by more than 10% for essential goods or services during a declared state of emergency. Essential goods and services include, but are not limited to, such things as food, water, pet food, medicine, toiletries, diapers, medical or emergency supplies, and lodging.
Under California law, those who price gouge are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a sentence of up to a year in county jail and/or fines up to $10,000. There also can be civil penalties including a fine of $5,000 per violation, restitution to the victim or victims, and a court order to stop.
