HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200915 (KPD warns public to be aware of latest scams)
THE COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
DEREK S. K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: September 15, 2020
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
TODD G. RAYBUCK, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-1600
Fax (808) 241-1604
KPD warns public to be aware of latest scams
LĪHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department is urging residents and businesses to be aware
of the latest potential scams. Scammers are continuing to take advantage of the global COVID-
19 crisis to steal money and personal information and Kaua‘i police have been receiving
numerous reports of various tactics being used.
The scam that has been generating the most recent leverage is related to
unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. Scammers are
stealing people’s identities and fraudulently filing for benefits. The scammers are then able to
collect payments that are directly deposited into their bank accounts.
An additional tactic scammers are using pertaining to benefits includes influencing or
coaxing people to send their money elsewhere.
“These people are called ‘money mules,’” said Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce. “They are
often victims of scams themselves and have to repay their own bank the money that they sent
away per other scammers’ directions, leaving them worse off.”
Another recently reported scam involves people posing as representatives of the Hawai‘i
State Department of Health. A scammer will call a place of business and threaten to cite the
establishment, such as a restaurant, for having a health code violation and request that the
business send them money as a fine.
Witnesses have reported that one individual in particular, who has been posing as an
official calling businesses, has a heavy accent and asks redundant questions that the state
Department of Health would already have the answers to.
There are various other avenues that scammers are using to get their victims to provide
personal information, such as email, phone calls and social media. These scammers try to gain
the trust of their victims by using tactics such as:
• Posing as law enforcement and preying on people’s fears.
• Enticing victims with romance.
• Promising large payments of money.
• Suggesting computer repairs. A message will pop up on a victim’s computer
screen to call a number and scammers will pose as a computer repair person
and request payment.
“More often than not, in these cases, victims never meet the scammers in person and
most, if not all, tactics are via text or email. Some scammers will speak with the victims over the
phone, but they will never meet in person,” said Ponce. “These scammers will also sometimes
threaten that there are people on island who will visit the victims if they do not follow their
directions.”
A common method these type of scammers will use to obtain money is to instruct victims
to go to stores and purchase gift cards worth up to thousands of dollars. Or, they will instruct the
victims to send money wires. The scammers will remain on the phone with the victims during
the entire transaction.
“It is also common that once victims send money, a scammer will change their story or
promise to keep contacting the victim for more money. They will then use other scammers to
contact the victims and be very persistent,” said Ponce. “We don’t want community members
who are already struggling during these unpredictable times to fall victim to any of these crimes
and we urge everyone to remain vigilant to these scams and any others that could potentially
arise.”
Some helpful tips to avoid becoming a victim:
• Never give out personal information.
• Always vet the company that contacted you by doing your own research and
calling the company for verification purposes.
• Be aware that law enforcement will never call and ask you for payment in lieu of
having an arrest warrant issued in your name.
• Monitor your credit frequently. Check your bank, credit card and phone
statements regularly.
• Do not answer or return calls from unknown numbers
• Be aware of suspicious payment methods.
• Use caution when responding to unsolicited calls, emails or unknown individuals
on social networking sites.
• Help keep senior citizens safe as they are often targets for scam artists and tend
to be more trusting of unknown individuals.
• Remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
In the event that you or a loved one fall victim to a scam and disclose personal
information, immediately file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), all credit
reporting bureaus, the social security administration and your banks to inform them that your
identity might be compromised.
If you suspect a scam, please call KPD Dispatch at 241-1711 and file an official police
report. You can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 246-8300 or
by visiting www.crimestopperskauai.org.
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