Scam artists, price gouging reported in storm-ravaged southwest Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Scam artists are coming out of the woodwork as southwest Missouri digs out from under the worst ice storm in at least 50 years, officials in the state's third-largest city said Friday.

Also, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon's office was investigating more than 100 complaints of price gouging on supplies sought after an ice storm last weekend caused widespread power outages.

More than 77,000 homes and businesses, mainly in southwest Missouri, remained without power Friday, the State Emergency Management Agency said. Rural electric co-ops reported 35,000 customers without power, Empire Electric reported 24,000 customers and Springfield City Utilities reported 18,000 customers. In some cases, the outages may last another week to 10 days, the state agency said.

Although ice began melting as the sun came out and temperatures rose into the upper 30s Friday, officials said they were concerned that a storm forecast to drop up to 6 inches of snow on the region today could knock out power again.

Officials were warning residents about potential scams.

Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson said city officials were starting to get reports of con artists targeting home owners eager for repairs after ice tore down trees, limbs and utility lines across the region.

"We're at that stage in the process now where scam artists, it's warm enough for them to come out of the woodwork and try to rip off some people," Carlson said a news conference Friday morning.

Police chief Lynn Rowe said the most common scams being reported involved fake contractors who demand payment in advance, then never return to do the work. Rowe urged residents to hire only contractors they know and not to pay in advance of cleanup or electrical repairs.

The attorney general's office said it is looking into more than 100 complaints of price gouging for emergency supplies, such as gasoline, kerosene, generators and motel rooms.

Nixon said complaints included gas stations charging about $1 more per gallon of gasoline than normal, motels upping room prices up to $75 after the storm and businesses charging double and triple the normal price of a gallon of kerosene.

Missouri consumer protection laws makes it illegal to take advantage of disasters to charge excessive prices, Nixon said. Violators can face penalties of up to $1,000 per incident.