New Jersey has joined 32 other states in calling on some of the nation's largest online marketplaces to adopt more effective measures to combat price gouging as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

 

In letters, major companies such as Facebook, Amazon, Walmart, eBay and Craigslist are being asked to take aggressive measures against it.

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New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, as well as other attorney generals from around the country, are asking third-party sellers to be blocked from increasing prices.

 

The companies are asked to create a "Fair Pricing" page or portal so customers can report price gouging to the companies directly.

By Monday afternoon, the Division of Consumer Affairs had received around 1,500 consumer complaints from approximately 1,000 business locations. The complaints allege unfair price hikes on surgical masks, disinfectant sprays and wipes, hand sanitizer, bottled water, food, and other items.