Whenever there is a natural disaster affecting our neighbors, people continue to prove that they will come out to help in the worst situations. That has been proven here in Kern County following the devestating quakes that hit the Ridgecrest, Trona areas.

Unfortunately, there will always be those who will try to take advantage of the situation for their own personal gain. One such way is price gouging.

"Price gouging is a term referring to when a seller spikes the prices of goods, services or commodities to a level much higher than is considered reasonable or fair, and is considered exploitative, potentially to an unethical extent. Usually this event occurs after a demand or supply shock. Common examples include price increases of basic necessities after hurricanes or other natural disasters."

If you feel that you have been a victim of price gouging in the city of Ridgecrest, Trona or any of the surrounding areas affected by the earthquakes, contact the Attorney General's Office at 1-800-952-5225.