Coronavirus Scams and Price Gouging

• Texans should also be aware of cyber scams. Texans who believe they have encountered disaster scams should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at 800-621-0508 or file a complaint online. For additional information on disaster scams, please visit the Attorney General'sdisaster scams website.                       
• For information on what the Federal Trade Commission is doing regarding coronavirus scams, see Coronavirus Scams: What the FTC Is Doing.

• Lone Star Legal Aid offers this video: COVID-19 Related Consumer Legal Tips.

• The Better Business Bureau offers resources about scams.           

  • ​The BBB Education Foundation/Texas Senior Medicare Patrol is working hard to ensure the community is safe from scam attempts. They have a “Scam of the Week” video series.

  • The World Health Organization compiled a COVID-19 related misinformation clearinghouse.                                   

• The Supreme Court of Texas is aware of scam callers falsely claiming the Supreme Court of Texas has issued an arrest warrant and attempting to obtain personal and financial information from the call recipient. The Supreme Court of Texas does not issue arrest warrants. Do not give any personal information, such as social security or banking numbers, over the phone with anyone claiming to be from the Crime Victim Services Division. You may report these calls to the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Division by calling toll-free 800-621-0508. 

• The U.S. Department of Justice has information on combatting fraud here.

• Legal Aid of Northwest Texas has published this Q&A video on COVID-19 consumer fraud issues. 

Currently, the disaster declaration prompted by several discovered cases of coronavirus in Texas is effective across the entire state. Price gouging is illegal, and a disaster declaration triggers tough penalties under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). Price-gougers may be required to reimburse consumers and may be held liable for civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation with an additional penalty of up to $250,000 if the affected consumers are elderly.  

Texans who believe they have encountered price gouging should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at 800-621-0508 or file a complaint online. See How to Spot and Report Price Gouging.