Altadena Sheriff’s Station Alerts Public to Disaster-Related Price Gouging and Fraud

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station, through posts on social media, has issued a public alert urging residents to report instances of price gouging and fraud during emergencies.

The state defines price gouging as sellers attempting to exploit consumers during emergencies by significantly increasing prices for essential goods and services.

California’s Office of the Attorney General has established dedicated channels for reporting such violations, including a specialized website at oag.ca.gov/lafires and a hotline at (800) 952-5225.

State law strictly prohibits merchants from raising prices more than 10 percent on essential goods and services after emergency declarations, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

The price gouging restrictions apply broadly across various sectors, encompassing both short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb and traditional longer-term residential lease agreements.

Law enforcement officials advise residents to maintain detailed records including emails, texts, voicemails, direct messages, screenshots of rental listings, hotel charges and call records.

The Attorney General’s office also requires specific identifying information when filing reports, including the full names, contact information, and business addresses of parties involved in suspected violations.

The Office of the AG said landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants with the intention of re-renting properties at higher rates during emergency periods, with additional protections possible under local ordinances.

Local authorities encourage affected residents to report violations to either their local law enforcement agencies or directly to the state Attorney General’s office.