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With Hurricane Earl whirling toward our shores, Attorney General Roy Cooper's office is telling N.C. to watch out for price gouging and other storm-related scams.

“Don’t let con artists use this storm to take your money and run,” he said in a news release Wednesday.

The state's price gouging law is now in effect because a state of emergency has been declared due to Earl.

Consumers can report potential price gouging to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (or 1-877-566-7226) toll-free within North Carolina or by filling out the price gouging complaint form (electronic form or .pdf file) at www.ncdoj.gov.

Price gouging — or charging too much in times of crisis — is against N.C. law when a disaster, an emergency or an abnormal market disruption for critical goods and services is declared or proclaimed by the governor.

Under North Carolina’s price gouging law (N.C. General Statute 75-38), the Attorney General’s office can put a stop to price gouging and seek refunds for consumers who paid too much. 

Some people take advantage of consumers for tree removal, care repairs and so on.

Residents can report scams and frauds by calling that toll-free number mentioned above or by filing a consumer complaint. 

Cooper offered the following tips to consumers:

• Do not attempt to move downed power lines. Call your utility company immediately for assistance.

• Contact your insurance company. Some insurance companies require an adjuster’s approval before work can be done. Take pictures and videos of the damage, if possible. Cover holes in your roof or walls with a tarp to prevent additional damage if you can do so safely.

• Do not  pay for work up front. Inspect the work and make sure you are satisfied before you pay. A reasonable down payment may be required for some projects, but don’t pay anything without getting a written contract. Avoid paying with cash; use a check or a credit card instead.

• Beware of any contractor who tries to rush you or who comes to your home to solicit work. If an offer is only good now or never, find someone else to perform the work. Seek recommendations from friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who have had work performed on their homes.

• Get three written estimates for the work, if possible, and compare bids. Check credentials and contact the Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau to learn about any complaints against the contractor. Before work beings, make sure you get a written contract detailing all the work to be performed, its costs and a projected completion date.

• For car repairs, shop around and compare written estimates. On major jobs, get a second opinion. If the mechanic recommends replacing parts, ask for the old parts. You may receive credit on some parts if the mechanic wants to keep them.

• Beware of charity scams that use recent storms to make their phony pleas for donations sound more plausible.  If a caller refuses to answer your questions about the charity, offers to come pick up a donation in person or calls you and asks for a credit card, bank account, or Social Security Number, it may be a scam.  To report telemarketing fraud, call the Attorney General's Office.  To check up on a charity, call the Secretary of State's Office toll-free at (888) 830-4989.