NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned businesses Saturday not to exploit fears over the coronavirus to charge customers exorbitant prices for hand sanitizer, masks and other health products.
LISTEN LIVE: 1010 WINS' 24/7 coverage of the coronavirus outbreak
“Price gouging continues to be a problem,” Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany. “This is serious. This isn’t just price gouging. It’s price gouging in an emergency situation.
Cuomo said there are specific legal provisions that oversee price gouging during an emergency, something the governor dealt with when he was attorney general during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“We have reports of stores selling hand sanitizer for $80 a bottle,” Cuomo said.
Stores have also reportedly been charging people $100 for a box of masks that usually go for a few dollars.
“It is not worth it to the store owner,” Cuomo said. “You can lose your license, sand we are very serious about this.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also warned stores earlier this week.
“There is a shortage of face masks in New York City, which can prevent stores from price gouging,” de Blasio said. “If anyone sees gouging around surgical masks please call 311 and report it.”
The governor said state and local police are investigating the reports of price gouging and that violators “will be caught.”
He said there are also reports of people selling potentially stolen masks on Facebook and eBay. He urged those sites to act to protect consumers.
“These are medical masks. Where did they come from?” Cuomo said. “The person did not manufacture them in his or her basement. They had to come from somewhere.”
Cuomo directed the New York State Department of State's Consumer Protection Division to launch an investigation into reports of unfair price increases of consumer products such as household cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, and launched a toll-free hotline - 1-800-697-1220 - for New Yorkers to report suspected price gouging.
In addition, the Division of Consumer Protection has also created an online consumer complaint form, where New Yorkers can report suspected price gouging or concerns about improper delivery of quantity. Consumers who wish to file a complaint can visit https://www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/.
All credible complaints will be referred to the New York State Attorney General's office.