NEW: Neronha Warns RIers of Price Gouging, Other Scams During Coronavirus Outbreak

NEW: Neronha Warns RIers of Price Gouging, Other Scams During Coronavirus Outbreak

With the outbreak of coronavirus in Rhode Island and across the country, Attorney General Peter Neronha is warning Rhode Islanders to watch out potential scams or instances of price gouging stemming from the outbreak of coronavirus. 

“These are unique and uncertain circumstances. The focus here has to be on public health, not profit. This Office is going to make sure people have access to the goods and services they need to minimize the threat from this public health emergency. Our commitment, as always, remains to keep Rhode Islanders safe,” said Neronha. 

There have been five confirmed cases of coronavirus in Rhode Island as of Wednesday, as GoLocalProv reported. 

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across the globe, coronavirus has infected more than 119,000 people, including at least 1,000 in the U.S. 

At least 4,200 people have passed away from the virus worldwide. 

 

Avoiding Scams

The Attorney General’s office is offering the following tips to Rhode Island consumers to avoid scams.

Businesses are prohibited from increasing the price of any essential commodity to an “unconscionably high price” immediately before or during a declared state of emergency. This practice is known as price gouging and it is illegal in Rhode Island.

If you notice or suspect price gouging, or think you have been a victim, contact our Consumer Protection Unit at (401) 274-4400 or fill out an online complaint form.

 

Travel:

Have a trip planned and think you may want to cancel? We advise that you reach out to your travel provider. Many companies have canceled trips and are providing refunds. Others have relaxed their cancellation policies in the wake of the COVID-19 situation.

You can also reach out to our Consumer Protection Unit at 401-274-4400 to find out additional options.

 

Scams

• Be vigilant! Don’t click on links in unsolicited e-mails. Always verify the source.
• Be wary of emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or World Health Organization (WHO). These organizations will not be contacting you directly. Visit www.cdc.org or www.who.org for health-related information.
• There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19. Any offer promising a vaccination is a scam.
• Thoroughly check out any charity or organization seeking donations for COVID-19 related causes. Someone asking for donations - particularly in cash, prepaid credit cards, or gift cards - to help victims of COVID-19, or for “research” into finding a vaccine or cure, is likely a scammer.
• Look out for scam "investment opportunities.” The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an investor alert. Before making any type of investment regarding stock in any company, you should contact a legitimate investment company.
• Beware of online or unsolicited calls or emails from individuals posing as government officials, insurance adjustors or healthcare representatives. Do not provide personal information (such as social security number, date of birth, etc.) to any unsolicited callers.

 

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, contact our Consumer Protection Unit at (401) 274-4400 or fill out an online complaint form.

Additional steps Attorney General's Office is taking:

• We continue to monitor and stay apprised of state efforts
• Our consumer protection team is ready to answer inquiries via phone or email
• We are prepared to investigate bad actors who are scamming consumers or price gouging
• Out of an abundance of caution, we are suspending all Office public events (non-court related) throughout the month of March and will assess going forward.