People impacted by Hurricane Florence face scams, price gouging and other consumer abuses; U.S. PIRG offers tip sheet to help

Media Contacts

U.S. PIRG

Contact: Adam Garber, Consumer Watchdog, [email protected], (267) 515-1220

Ross Sherman, Communications Associate, [email protected], (303) 573-5995 ext. 338

 

As people throughout the Carolinas and Virginia start to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Florence, they face a number of scams and challenges, from price gouging to collecting insurance to safety for their pets and themselves.

In an online tip sheet, U.S. PIRG is sharing information and expertise that will help readers, listeners and viewers better understand and protect themselves from those who may prey on them.

“Florence’s victims have enough problems to deal with — sickness, mold, flooded property and other damage. Sadly, they also have to make sure no one is taking advantage of them, as the flood waters recede,” said U.S. PIRG Consumer Watchdog Adam Garber.

Already, just days after Florence made landfall, the North Carolina Attorney General is receiving price gouging complaints. After Hurricane Harvey decimated parts of Texas last year, more than 3,200 homeowners submitted complaints of scams, price gouging and fraud as they tried to repair their homes, according to the AARP.  

The following experts are ready to provide advice, on top of the information in our tip sheet:

Adam Garber, [email protected], is U.S. PIRG’s Consumer Watchdog. He works to protect consumers from a wide array of dangers including contaminated food, hazardous products and fraud. He  educates the public about looming threats, empowers consumers to protect themselves, and shifts the marketplace to put consumers first.

Ed Mierzwinski, [email protected], oversees U.S. PIRG’s federal consumer program, leading national efforts to improve consumer credit reporting laws, identity theft protection, product safety regulation and more. Ed led a coalition that fought for the establishment of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has worked on airline passenger rights, and a host of other consumer issues.

Mike Litt, [email protected], directs U.S. PIRG’s national campaign to protect consumers from financial predators by defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Recently, he has led efforts to strengthen identity theft protections in the wake of the Equifax data breach.

As more information becomes available, we will update U.S. PIRG’s websites with additional tips for people recovering from Florence. Reach out to our experts to learn more about how people affected by the storm can protect themselves.

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