SPOKANE, Wash — A lot of good has come out of the local community during the coronavirus response, but there are some people who are taking advantage of a vulnerable situation.
The Washington State Office of the Attorney General says the number of price gouging complaints has increased in the month of March, totaling 321 complaints.
Products like masks, cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer are in high demand, so some businesses raise prices on those products to turn a bigger profit. But the Attorney General's Office says that doing that is illegal.
If a shopper notices price gouging at any store in person or online, they can go the Attorney General's Office's website to file a complaint. When filing a complaint, including details such as photos or screenshots of prices and products is important.
The Attorney General's Office says they follow up on complaints and send investigators to examine the businesses.
If they find a store is breaking the law, they send them a cease and desist letter that states the company must stop price gouging or they will face legal trouble.
One local Spokane company has already received a cease and desist letter from the state for overpricing masks and sanitizers.
The Better Business Bureau has also received an increased number of price gouging complaints recently.
"Make sure you're doing the following things if you're a business owner or even if you're a consumer. Build trust. Refrain from taking advantage of a public emergency such as the coronavirus," Tyler Russell, Marketplace Manager for Better Business Bureau Northwest Pacific, said.
Remember these price gouging scams can happen in person or online, so be aware anytime when purchasing any high demand items.
If you see price gouging, you’re asked to file a complaint with the attorney general’s office online.