The Hawai‘i Police Department is alerting residents of Big Island to a disturbing trend of phone scammers posing as law enforcement officials, targeting unsuspecting individuals with fraudulent claims of outstanding warrants. In a recent incident, a Kona senior citizen was nearly swindled out of $7,000 after receiving a call from a scammer who convincingly "spoofed" the department's phone number, as reported by the Hawai‘i Police Department's official website.
The deceit unfolded with the scammer, armed with a former officer's name and badge number, demanding immediate payment for purported warrants. But the scheme was foiled when the 75-year-old recipient of the call, rightly suspicious, sought to resolve the matter in-person at the police station, and an employee at the local retail business where he was instructed to deposit the "fines" stepped in. This near-miss should serve as a critical reminder: never share personal details like Social Security numbers, bank information, or credit card numbers over the phone, especially not to someone whose identity you cannot verify.
Officials from the Hawai‘i Police Department have clarified their process for handling warrants, noting that while officers do occasionally call individuals with outstanding warrants, they never demand payments over the phone, much less through unconventional means like a vending machine, gift cards, or bitcoin. The department's website offers further guidelines on handling such calls, advising the public to hang up immediately if they suspect illegitimacy and confirm with police dispatch by calling (808) 935-3311 for accurate information.
The community is urged to exercise caution and skepticism towards urgent or coercive calls that claim legal consequences. To safeguard one's personal information and finances, "hang up and call police dispatch at (808) 935-3311" to dispel any doubts about the caller's authenticity, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department.
