Following the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has issued a warning to scammers and price gougers.
"While most Tennesseans are showing the best of the Volunteer spirit to our neighbors devastated by Helene, a few bad actors always slime out of the woodwork to take advantage of those in need,” said Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti. “Price gouging and scamming vulnerable people after disasters is not only repulsive, it’s illegal. My office will not hesitate to enforce Tennessee’s consumer protection laws against any bad actor attempting to rip off Tennesseans recovering from the storm."
The Division of Consumer Affairs advises residents to be cautious of disaster relief scams. Many may seek professional help for repairs, temporary shelter, or essential supplies while others may wish to donate money. Despite many willing to assist during such times, some exploit survivors' vulnerability or donors' generosity.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to unreasonably raise prices or restrict supplies of essential goods in response to a natural disaster. This includes repair services, emergency supplies like water and batteries, medical supplies, food items, building materials, gasoline, transportation services, housing rentals on month-to-month terms, and temporary healthcare staffing.
Residents should be wary of contractors without proper licensing. Contractors must register with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. To verify registration status or check for complaints against contractors, visit https://search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov/. Home improvement contractors generally cannot charge more than one-third of the contract price upfront unless specified otherwise and must provide a written contract detailing all work aspects.
For assistance applications related to home repairs covered by insurance or federal/state entities, residents should know that these organizations do not solicit funds as a condition for providing aid.
When donating to charities, ensure donations go directly where needed by researching through sites like https://give.org/, https://www.charitynavigator.org/, and https://www.charitywatch.org/. Charities in Tennessee must also be licensed; this can be verified at https://sos.tn.gov/charities.
To report scams or price gouging incidents or file complaints regarding disaster relief scams or price gouging activities contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at 615-741-4737 or submit online at: https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html.