Oklahoma price gouging: The Oklahoma attorney general’s office is warning people donating to tornado relief groups to be wary of fraudulent operations.
The office said Tuesday that scams tend to pop up after major disasters and that Oklahomans and people around the country should only donate to reputable groups, such as the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.
Attorney General Scott Pruitt says his office has more than 30 field investigators to combat fraud, scams and price gouging that may emerge in the days after the Moore tornado.
The Emergency Price Stabilization Act is in effect for 16 counties after Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency, according to The Oklahoman.
State law prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent in the price of most goods and services after a state of emergency has been declared.
“This weekend’s severe storms left a trail of devastation across the state, damaging personal and business property that will need to be repaired or replaced,” Pruitt said. “While the overwhelming majority of Oklahomans are focused on helping their neighbors in the aftermath, we have seen a few cases of price gouging and fraudulent claims in the past, so consumers need to be alert.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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