Price Gouging Missouri (3-25-20)

Price Gouging Missouri (3-25-20)

Law enforcement arm is asking missourians to report price gouging related to the covid-19 pandemic.

The state's attorney general has added a page to his website for all scams profiting off of the public health crisis.

Kq2s madeline mcclain tells us about it.

Madeline mcclain, kq2 news: you may something about your grocery store shelves.

They are bare.

I'm at store in savannah.

Toilet paper paper towels used to line the shelves but now they are empty.

It's a result of people panic buying, or people grabbing everything they see and hawking it at a higher price to profit off the panic.

Eric schmitt, mo.

Attorney general: unfortunately in times of peril like this, there are fraudsters that work overtime.nearly 100 complaints have hit missouri's attorney general's desk -- a majority about price gouging practice of raising prices on necessities during an emergency.eric schmitt, mo.

Attorney general: we want people to know especially in times of a public health crisis and natural disaster that price gouging is illegal and if we find it, investigate it and ready willing and able to take action.it's a problem nationwide -- skyrocketing prices for hand sanitizer, masks, toilet paper and more.

On ebay-- packs of toilet paper going for $50, $100 or $200 dollars.to combat the online price race -- the attorney general has teamed up with facebook and amazon.eric schmitt, mo.

Attorney general: we can work with them to catch price gouging on the front-end as people go online to purchase essential items as well.to stop people on the local level -- store owners are limiting bulk buys.and city's are doing it too.all backed by law enforcement and state officials dollar fine and a potential for criminal charges.eric schmitt, mo.

Attorney general: we are fully operational at the attorneys general office and one of our main charges is to be advocates for all 6 million missourians and so if there is a scam that's out there, price gouging that you are aware of, reach out to us and we'll take action.

Reporting in savannah, madeline mcclain kq2 news.

Missourians can report any kind of covid-19 scam -- whether that's a phishing scam, robo call, or exorbitant prices -- to this toll free number 816-392-8222.