The Phoenix Flyer

Beware of scams, price gouging following Hurricane Michael

By: Diane Rado - October 11, 2018 4:11 pm

Attorney General Pam Bondi is cautioning consumers to beware of scams following Hurricane Michael’s path through Florida.

Residents can get scammed in a variety of areas, from tree removal to home repair and disaster relief programs, according to the Attorney General’s office.

While most contractors and workers want to help, “People should be wary before paying for services—to guard against scams,” Bondi said in a press release. “Floridians who encounter a scam should call my office immediately. I will not tolerate anyone exploiting this disaster to take advantage of those in need.”

Consumers can report price gouging or scams to the Florida Attorney General’s Office at 1(866) 9NO-SCAM, or file a complaint online at MyFloridaLegal.com.

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Diane Rado

Diane Rado has covered state and local government and public schools in six states over some 30 years, focusing on policy and investigative stories as well as legislative and political reporting. She spent most of her career at the St. Petersburg (Tampa Bay) Times and the Chicago Tribune. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and did a fellowship in education reform at the University of Michigan in 1999-2000. She is married to a journalist and has three adult children.