Hawaii nurses are being hit with a nasty new twist on an old con, as state officials warn that scammers are phoning licensed medical professionals, pretending to be government investigators and then fishing for personal data or cash. The calls have zeroed in on current and former nursing licensees, including LPNs, RNs and APRNs, while also hitting dentists, pharmacists and other providers. The callers often spoof local numbers and crank up the urgency to make the call sound like the real deal.
According to Spectrum News Hawaii, the scammers typically claim there is an active investigation, then press for sensitive information or even try to squeeze out wire transfers. State guidance warns that the impostors may name-drop agencies such as the DEA, the Hawaiʻi Medical Board or other regulators to intimidate victims. Officials say the pattern has triggered repeated consumer alerts because the calls can sound so convincingly official.
"RICO investigators will never ask for sensitive personal information over the phone or request wire transfers," the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said in Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, adding that Regulated Industries Complaints Office correspondence is issued on official letterhead. The agency also reminded licensees that only the PVL's 52 licensing boards, commissions and programs have the authority to discipline a licensee and that discipline follows proper notification and an investigation. Anyone who is unsure about a call is urged to look up contact information on their own instead of trusting caller ID.
How the scam works
In most cases, the call starts with a jolt: the licensee is told an investigation has been opened. From there, the scammer works to pry loose identifying details or a payment, sometimes insisting they are with a federal or state agency. Spectrum News Hawaii reports that the current wave has focused mainly on nurses, though officials caution that scammers routinely shift targets from one profession to another. Caller ID spoofing, panicky threats and demands for unusual payment methods are all familiar red flags.
What to do if you get a call
Officials say the safest move is to hang up right away and refuse to share any personal or financial information. After that, verify the contact on your own using phone numbers from the DCCA PVL contact list, not from the caller. Suspicious calls should be reported to your licensing board or to the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at 1‑844‑808‑3222, ext. 1; the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division lists program phone numbers. Keeping copies of official correspondence and checking your license status through state portals can make it easier to spot a fake outreach attempt.
Legal consequences
The state is also reminding residents that impersonating a public servant is a crime and that such cases will be investigated and prosecuted, according to an alert from the Governor's office. Consumers and licensees who think they have been targeted are urged to file reports with law enforcement and their licensing board so authorities can track patterns and take enforcement action.
Why this matters locally
Surge in license scam calls was documented in April 2025, and the newest warnings show the scheme has circled back, this time zeroing in on nurses. The continuing cycle underscores how vulnerable licensed professionals across the islands remain to callers who sound like state investigators but are not. Regulators say staying skeptical, double-checking every “official” call and following DCCA updates are still the strongest defenses against being taken in.
