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Officials warn about price gouging as diesel prices continue to skyrocket

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As diesel fuel prices hit record high levels, state officials say that they are on the lookout for evidence of price gouging.

Following news from the White House that the U.S. will ban the import of Russian oil due to the invasion of Ukraine, fuel prices have shot up across the country. According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of diesel on Thursday in the U.S. is $5.058.

As the trucking industry staggers under the new pain at the pump, some state officials are warning retailers and consumers about the possibility of fuel price gouging, which means a dramatic price increase caused by an actual or perceived emergency.

In Massachusetts, State Attorney General Maura Healey is on the lookout for evidence of price gouging after receiving multiple complaints from consumers, according to a report from the Boston Globe.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin has also called for Healey to investigate possible price gouging. Galvin says he has no evidence to show that fuel retailers are unfairly increasing prices, but told WHDH that the speed at which fuel costs are increasing is suspicious. “What has changed in 24 hours, in some cases the same day? Prices went up in the same location. I’m not advocating for price control, what I am advocating for is price scrutiny,” Galvin said.

Galvin has also pointed to the vast difference in prices between gas stations as possible evidence of price gouging.

In New York, State Attorney General Letitia James issued a statement warning that “price gouging will not be tolerated.”

“President Biden is taking critical and necessary action to hold Russia accountable for this unprovoked invasion that has claimed thousands of Ukrainian lives,” said James. “This newest round of sanctions could impact New Yorkers, so we are reminding companies that price gouging is illegal and ensuring that consumers take precautions to protect themselves and their wallets. Anyone who has experienced issues relating the price gouging of fuel should contact my office, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect consumers.”

How To Report Price Gouging

Consumers who wish to report price gouging should contact their state’s Attorney General. For best results, include specific increased prices, the dates, and places, and the types of fuel being sold. Consumers may also provide copies of their sales receipts and photos of the advertised prices, if available.

See online report forms for each state below.

Alabama https://www.alabamaag.gov/consumercomplaint

Alaska http://www.law.state.ak.us/department/civil/consumer/cp_complaint.html

Arizona https://consumer-complaint.azag.gov/publiccomplaint/begin.aspx

Arkansas https://arkansasag.gov/covid19/report/

California https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

Colorado https://coag.gov/file-complaint/report-consumer-fraud/

Connecticut https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/

Delaware https://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/fraud/cpu/complaint/

Florida http://www.myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/PriceGouging!OpenForm

Georgia http://ocp.ga.gov/form/consumer-complaint/step1

Hawaii email [email protected]

Idaho https://www.ag.idaho.gov/office-resources/online-forms/?form=File%20a%20Complaint&complaint=Consumer%20Complaint

Illinois https://ccformsubmission.ilattorneygeneral.net/

Indiana https://indianaattorneygeneral.secure.force.com/ConsumerComplaintForm

Iowa https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint/complaint-form

Kansas https://ag.ks.gov/complaint-center/consumer

Kentucky https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/AttorneyGeneral/PriceGougingComplaintForm

Louisiana http://www.ag.state.la.us/Form/Consumer/Dispute

Maine https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml

Maryland https://web.oag.state.md.us/editor/customer/onlineformhelpers/formviewer.aspx?filename=MUGeneral.htm

Massachusetts https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint

Michigan https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx

Minnesota https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp

Mississippi Phone Number 601-359-3680

Missouri http://ago.mo.gov/app/consumercomplaint

Montana https://app.doj.mt.gov/apps/oscar/complaintstart.aspx

Nebraska https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint

Nevada http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint/

New Hampshire requires registration https://www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints/index.htm

New Jersey https://njconsumeraffairs.state.nj.us/file-a-complaint/

New Mexico https://secure.nmag.gov/ecs

New York https://ag.ny.gov/price-gouging-complaint-form

North Carolina https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/

North Dakota https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints/general-complaint

Ohio https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint.aspx

Oklahoma Phone Number (405) 521-2029

Oregon https://justice.oregon.gov/consumercomplaints/OnlineComplaints/OnlineComplaintForm/en

Pennsylvania https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/

Rhode Island https://riag.wufoo.com/forms/q1851amb1bdd4d5/

South Carolina requires registration https://applications.sc.gov/DCAComplaintSystem/Login/ConsumerLogin.aspx

South Dakota https://atg.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx

Tennessee requires registration https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html

Texas http://txoag.force.com/CPDOnlineForm

Utah https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/contact/complaint-form/

Vermont https://agocapcomplaint.atg.state.vt.us/forms/consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form/

Virginia https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/files/PriceGougingComplaintFormOAG.pdf

Washington https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx

West Virginia https://ago.wv.gov/Pages/consumercomplaint.aspx

Wisconsin https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FileConsumerComplaint.aspx

Wyoming http://ag.wyo.gov/cpu/consumer-complaints

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