TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Floridians have received nearly $350,000 in refunds from businesses because of inflated prices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s price gouging hotline has been contacted 4,200 times since a state of emergency was declared in mid-March because of the deadly virus. In addition, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has issued 70 subpoenas as part of investigations into price gouging on high-demand items such as masks, sanitizing supplies, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits. “People that are going to use this crisis to profit while other people are just trying to protect themselves and their families, they need to be put on notice that we haven’t stopped working,” Moody said. “We’ll come for them.”People who violate the state’s price-gouging law face penalties of $1,000 per violation, up to $25,000 per day.

Florida’s price gouging hotline has received 3,350 contacts from consumers about potential price gouging. Items covered by Florida’s price gouging law under the state of emergency include protective masks, sanitizing and disinfecting supplies, commercial cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits. So, that work will continue.”More than 4,500 merchants have been contacted about price gouging allegations. You can also report price gouging online by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. In Georgia, price gouging can be reported online here: http://consumer.ga.gov/form/price-gouging/step1/price-gouging-form.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Tuesday that 65 subpoenas have been issued in investigations into price gouging on high-demand items amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Moody said the information was largely based on hundreds of tips provided by consumers. Moody activated the state price-gouging hotline on March 10, after Gov. Moody’s office has contacted merchants about allegations of price gouging and gotten online platforms to deactivate more than 160 posts offering items at inflated prices. “In most cases, people and businesses are working with our office and trying to remedy this situation,” Moody said.