In addition to grappling with destroyed neighborhoods, robbery, and looting, those impacted by the LA fires are wrestling with price gouging from opportunistic scammers.
Authorities say residents should be aware of scams and price gouging amid the huge displacement of people. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned against “anyone taking advantage of anyone who’s been victimized already, whether it is burglary, looting, or any other crime, whether it’s a scam of some kind that you’re conjuring up to make money off of the poor people that have been involved in this,” per The Guardian.
Federal prosecutors “are very eager to prosecute anyone who thinks they’re going to take advantage of the people who have been through this tragedy,” said Luna.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, several wildfires have ravaged parts of Los Angeles. The Palisades Fire, which erupted on January 7, has caused the most damage, wiping out over 17,000 acres and prompting mass evacuations.
“We’ve seen businesses and landlords … jack up the price,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on January 11, per The Guardian.
“It’s called price gouging. It is illegal. You cannot do it. It is a crime punishable by up to a year in jail and fines.”
Bonta said that according to California law, price increases are capped at 10% from before the fire. However, reports have emerged of some landlords hiking rents substantially higher.
News outlet LAist discovered one property in Bel Air that was previously listed in September 2024 for $15,900 per month. As of January 11, however, that property was listed for $29,500, a more than 85% increase.
“It’s crazy… I’ve been in the business for 35 years. I’ve never seen anything like this. People are desperate. There’s so many families without a house,” said the property’s listing agent, Fiora Aston, with real estate company Compass.
Ultimately, the Bel Air property listing was taken down, with Aston telling LAist that a family had taken possession.