Floridians receive more than $240K in price gouging refundsIf you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

Florida Attorney General: $130,000 in refunds have resulted from complaints to stateIf you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

Those are just a few products with eyebrow-raising prices that have caught the attention of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office as the state looks into price gouging complaints amid the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the nature of this public health emergency, much of the price gouging has resulted from products found online. Yet, it’s not just price gouging on Moody’s radar. The attorney general’s office noted that more than $130,000 has been refunded in response to complaints made to the state. It’s a good reminder for merchants that price gouging and other dodgy practices can hurt their business in more ways than one.

More than half of a million hoarded personal protective equipment (PPE) are ready for distribution in New York and New Jersey. The FBI discovered the supplies during an enforcement operation by the Department of Justice’s COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force on March 30. HHS said it will pay the owner of the hoarded equipment pre-COVID-19 fair market value for the supplies. Anyone who learns of hoarding or price gouging of PPE should report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by dialing 1-866-720-5721 or emailing disaster@leo.gov. Vendors interested in selling PPE to the federal government should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

They can report cases of price gouging to Moody’s office. So far, the attorney general has received nearly 750 reports with 628 of them under further review. “We’re really being aggressive in the field and responding to these on a day-to-day basis.”The attorney general said price gouging issues are primarily coming from the hardest hit counties, Broward and Miami-Dade. But as the virus spreads, Moody expects so too will price gouging. If you notice suspected price gouging, you can report it by calling 1-866-9NO-SCAM.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated the price gouging hotline in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency declared by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here is the list of supplies covered under the state of emergency:Protective masks used to protect you from others if you are sickSanitizing and disinfecting supplies such as hand sanitizer, gel, wipes, cleaning supplies for surface cleaning and all commercial cleaning suppliesAll personal protective equipment, including gowns, booties, gloves and other protective gearTo report coronavirus-related price gouging, call the hotline at 1-866-9NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). You can also report price gouging online by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

Florida's Attorney general Ashley Moody warns of stores and online vendors raising the prices on hand sanitizer. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.