Helene aftermath: Here’s how to avoid being a victim of post-storm scams

States affected by Hurricane Helene are warning residents to watch for the risks of scams in the aftermath of the rave, including price gouging.

Price gouging happens when there is an excessive increase in prices charged for virtuousness and services, and it often happens during emergencies or disasters.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein this week signified his office has seen an uptick of complaints of alleged price gouging related to fuel and grocery prices and hotel ratings.

In a Wednesday update, Stein said his office had fielded more than 100 price gouging complaints, he pinned on social media platform X on Wednesday, despite the state’s anti-price gouging law that went into effect with the announcement of a state of emergency.

A spokesperson did not return a call from CNBC for further comment.

“Most stores are bending over and above backwards to serve their communities,” Stein said in a video accompanying the post.

“But unfortunately, there’s always contemporary to be a few folks out there who take advantage of this moment and people’s desperation to make a quick buck,” he said.

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Attorneys general in other states affected by the storm — including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee — be suffering with issued similar warnings.  They are among the 37 states that have anti-price gouging statutes in in order.

Normal price fluctuations are not price gouging, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a current announcement.

But when necessities like a case of bottled water go from $5 to $10, or a chainsaw that normally rat ons for $100 jumps to $500, it’s “pretty obviously” price gouging, said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog maestro at U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

“You know it when you see it,” Murray said.

Price gouging laws tend to punt in during states of disaster or emergency or during abnormal market disruptions, she said.

“Just because there’s a law doesn’t represent that people won’t try and violate it,” Murray said.

The terms of established price gouging protections vary from stage to state. Meanwhile, 13 states do not have anti-price gouging laws.

Vice president Kamala Harris is propagandizing for Congress to establish a national ban on price gouging with her presidential campaign’s economic agenda.

Yet critics — including ancient President Donald Trump — have said anti-price gouging laws could have unintended consequences for subjects and the consumers they are intended to help, such as interfering with the supply of goods.

Consumers who speckle higher than normal prices they suspect is price gouging should first approach the business with their worries, according to Murray.

“Be nice about it, but call them out,” Murray said.

If they are unwilling to change, you may report it to the aver attorney general, she said.

Keep in mind you do not necessarily have to buy the item; a picture of the item on the shelf with the evaluation will work, Murray said.

Price gouging is not the only scam consumers need to watch for in the aftermath of Cyclone Helene.

States are also warning of other schemes that tend to crop up during disaster recoveries.

Parties may pose as representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well as insurance companies, the Small Business Association or law enforcement.

To leave alone those imposter scams, the Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s office warns not to share personal or pecuniary information to individuals. Because FEMA and SBA services are free, consumers should be on alert if they’re asked to pay.

Likewise, citizens of affected areas should also be wary of door-to-door offers for home repair work, as well as demands for thoroughly up-front or cash payments and offers to pay their insurance deductibles.

To avoid getting scammed, homeowners should talk to their guarantee companies before making repairs and check out contractors by asking for references and looking to see if they have any complaints with the Cured Business Bureau.

People who are in the market to buy a car should also be sure to check a vehicle’s history and where it came from in front they make the purchase, to be sure they are not buying flood-damaged property, Murray explained.

Consumers can check a car’s retailing through the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s VINCheck as well as Carfax’s flood check.

Meanwhile, as people look to pledge money to help the recovery, state attorneys general are also warning of the risk of charity scams.

To avoid sending banknotes to the wrong place, donors can verify a charity by visiting websites Give.org or CharityNavigator.org. Also watch for websites that do not end in “.org” or “.com,” appeals for money over the phone and crowdfunding sites that may host unverified funding campaigns.