NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday called on state residents to report any price gouging by stores facing shortages of children’s pain relievers and fever reducers.
The attorney general, a Democrat, issued a consumer advisory amid a surge in COVID-19, RSV and flu cases, urging anyone who notices a rise in the prices of children’s medicines to report it to his office. . This amid a national shortage of these drugs.
“This year’s tripledemic disease is keeping many sick children and infants at home, and families trying to care for them are facing national shortages of children’s Tylenol and other medicines,” James said. “The last thing a family needs when a child has a fever or aches is an increase in the price of the medicines they need.”
The prosecutor said he was notifying speculators that his office is prepared to investigate any incidences of dramatic price hikes.
He noted that New York law prohibits merchants from taking unfair advantage of consumers by setting unreasonably high prices for something vital to the safety, health and well-being of New York residents.
James also warned consumers to buy only the amount of children’s drugs they need and not stockpile supplies others might need. Retailers, she added, are allowed to limit the amount of drugs they sell to individual consumers when supply is limited.
When reporting price increases to the District Attorney’s Office, consumers must:
- Report specific price increases, the dates and places they saw the price increases, and the types of drugs sold.
- Provide copies of your sales receipts and photos of advertised prices, if available.
- New Yorkers should report potential price fraud issues to the District Attorney’s Office by filing an online complaint or by calling 1-800-771-7755.
