Resources for Californians Impacted by Los Angeles Fires

Price gouging refers to sellers trying to take unfair advantage of consumers during an emergency or disaster by greatly increasing prices for essential consumer goods and services.

General information on price gouging can be found on our Price Gouging FAQ page.

Individuals, businesses, and other entities must comply with the statute. The statute applies to all sellers, including manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. It also covers all sales, including sales to individuals and families, businesses and other organizations, and government agencies.

Beware of fraudsters who may attempt to take advantage during this natural disaster. If it sounds too good to be true, it may be. Do your research, and see the following tips to protect yourself from scams:

• Verify Credentials: Always check licenses, certifications, and reviews for contractors, adjusters, and charities. To find licensed contractors check with the Contractors State License Board.
• Be Skeptical of Upfront Payments: Avoid paying large sums upfront for services or promises of assistance.
• Confirm Authenticity: Use official channels to verify government representatives or relief efforts.
• Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly review financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity.
• Report Fraud: Report suspected scams to local law enforcement or to the Attorney General's Office at oag.ca.gov/report.

General information on possible scams can be found on our Common Scams page.

Beware of fraudulent charitable and crowdfunding solicitations that may claim to help the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Well-intentioned or otherwise, charities and crowdfunding pages formed overnight as a response to this crisis may lack the experience, contacts, and staff needed to respond to a disaster, or may be fraudulent. Before providing any monetary aid to those claiming to provide direct assistance to victims of this wildfire, take your time to research before giving.

• Check the Registration Status: Charities operating in California and fundraisers soliciting donations in California are required to register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. They are also required to file annual financial reports, which are made available to the public. Before making a donation, make sure to confirm that the charity is registered and up-to-date with its financial reporting by searching the Attorney General's Registry Search Tool.
• Give to Organizations You Trust: Do your research before giving. Review how much the charity spends directly on the charitable cause and how much goes to overhead and employee compensation. If you choose to donate to a charity you are unfamiliar with, contact the charity and ask for information in writing about how it plans to support the fire victims. You should also confirm the charity's name, address, and its nonprofit status.
• Be Wary of Social Network Fundraising or Crowdfunding: If you are planning to donate through a social network solicitation or through internet platforms, first do some research. Find out if the money is going to a charity, to the platform, or to a person who set up the solicitation. Find out what percentage of your donation is going to the charity or for a charitable cause, and whether you will be charged a fee.
• Don't Be Pressured by Telemarketers — Ask Questions Before Donating: If you receive a call from a telemarketer, ask for the name of the fundraising organization, whether it is registered with the Attorney General's Office, the name of the charity benefitting from the solicitation, how much of your donation will go to charity and how much to the telemarketer, and the direct telephone number of the charity. Don't fall for pressure tactics or threats. Remember that you have the right to reject the donation appeal and if you feel pressured or threatened, just hang up.
• Watch Out for Similar-Sounding Names, Web Addresses, and Other Deceptive Tactics: Fraudulent organizations may use names that closely resemble those of well-established charitable organizations to mislead donors. Look out for fraudulent websites that have a slightly different web address (URL) than that of a legitimate charitable organization. Similar-looking URLs are sometimes purchased by fraudsters to lure in would-be donors. These sites may ask you for personal information or install harmful material onto your device. Be skeptical if someone thanks you for a pledge you never made, and always check your records.
• Understand the Difference Between "Tax-Exempt" and "Tax-Deductible": Being a nonprofit does not mean the organization is exempt from taxation, or that your donation is tax-deductible. Generally, a tax-exempt organization is exempt from paying tax on its income and gifts, but may or may not be able to offer a charitable tax deduction to donors for their contributions. Just because an organization has a "Tax ID Number" or provides donors with a receipt that says "keep this receipt for your records" does not mean that the organization is a charity or tax-exempt, or that your donation is tax-deductible. If you are not sure whether your donation is tax-deductible, verify the charity's tax-exempt status by using the tools and information located on the IRS website.
• Protect Your Identity: Never give your Social Security number or other personal information in response to a charitable solicitation. Never give out credit card information to an organization unfamiliar to you. Some organizations sell or rent their donor lists to other organizations, including organizations that are not charities. Review the charity's privacy policy to find out if your information will be shared with outside companies.

General information on making safe donations can be found on our Donation Tips page.

• Your lease ends, meaning you cannot continue living at the unit and you can stop paying rent. Take photos of the unit and communicate with your landlord about the condition of the property. This is important because if your unit is not completely destroyed, your lease does not end.
• If you are not sure if the rental unit was completely destroyed, call your local code enforcement office to request an inspection.
• Your landlord must return the pro-rated rent for the rest of the month, along with your full security deposit. For example, if your home is destroyed on June 10th, your landlord should return 20 days of rent.
• Renters insurance may cover the cost of temporary housing. Save your hotel and food receipts and contact your insurance company right away. If you don't have insurance, the Red Cross may offer temporary shelter in your area. You may also apply for assistance from FEMA if a disaster has been declared.

• Your lease continues, meaning you can continue living there and your landlord must make repairs and allow you to move back in.
• Your landlord must ensure that the unit is habitable, meaning fit for living in. This includes making sure that the roof and walls are waterproof, the windows and doors securely close and lock, the electrical wiring is safe and in good working order, and the plumbing is in good working order, along with other requirements.
• If you need repairs, let your landlord know. Make the request in writing and keep a copy. It is against the law for a landlord to retaliate because a tenant has asked for repairs. It is important to talk to a lawyer if your landlord refuses to make repairs or threatens to evict you.
• You must continue paying rent, but you may be entitled to a rent reduction while repairs are being made.
• If you want to move out, you will need to read your lease carefully to understand your options. For example, if you are on a month-to-month lease, you will need to give 30 days' notice that you are moving.

• Continue paying your mortgage. If you are facing financial difficulties, you may be eligible for a forbearance to postpone your mortgage payments. Contact your mortgage servicer to see if a disaster-related repayment program is available and to discuss possible mortgage-relief options. Find more information about forbearances and other mortgage-relief options.
• Homeowners insurance may cover the cost of temporary housing. Save your hotel and food receipts and contact your insurance company right away. The Red Cross may also offer temporary shelter in your area after a disaster. You may also apply for assistance from FEMA if a disaster has been declared.
• Homeowners insurance may cover rebuilding or repairing your home. If your insurance claim has been denied, ask your insurance company about the appeals process and request a written copy of their reason for denying your claim. You may wish to contact an attorney or file a request for assistance with the California Department of Insurance.
• If you need to rebuild your home, hire a licensed contractor to help avoid financial risk and other issues that may arise with unlicensed contractors. Anyone who acts as contractor in a federal or state disaster area without an active license could face felony charges. Check the validity of a contractor's license and to learn more about how to avoid getting scammed.

• Your local area may be subject to price gouging protections if a state of emergency has been declared. Landlords, hotels, stores, contractors, and others may be prohibited from raising rents or prices by more than 10%. Click here for more information about price gouging.
• Don't be the victim of a scam! Always see a rental unit in person before signing a lease or sending large amounts of money. Scammers may demand money for an apartment that does not exist or may show you one unit but rent you a different unit in worse condition. Legitimate landlords may ask for a small fee for tenant screening, but they should not insist that you pay the security deposit or first month's rent before you have seen the unit and signed a lease.
• If someone insists that you pay with cash, gift cards, or by wire transfer, it may be a scam. Learn more about how to spot a scam.