The Texas Attorney General’s Office has set up a hotline and email address for consumers to report possible scams or price gouging that occurred during or after Hurricane Harvey. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division investigates these claims and files civil lawsuits under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other consumer protection statutes.

The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act provides that it is a false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice to take advantage of a disaster declared by the Governor by:

§ selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, or another necessity at an exorbitant or excess price, or

§ demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine or another necessity.

The Governor has declared a disaster due to Hurricane Harvey.

If you suspect a business is price gouging or have encountered scam contractors, call the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508 or email consumeremergency@oag.texas.gov.