The Honolulu Police Department is warning the public to remain vigilant about scams involving individuals impersonating law enforcement or government agencies and officials to steal money and personal information.

Scammers often use technology to mimic (“spoof”) caller IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, and documents so they appear to be from real law enforcement or government agencies or officials. They also claim to be a law enforcement officer or government agency official and provide false credentials such as rank or badge number. Two recent reports indicate impersonation scams continue to actively target the public:

• A coordinated fraud group has been using the name and photograph of former CrimeStoppers Honolulu HPD Sergeant Chris Kim, falsely representing him as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), to facilitate a cryptocurrency recovery scheme.
• A scammer called a victim and falsely identified themselves as an HPD sergeant, providing a fictitious badge number and using a spoofed caller ID. The scammer claimed that the victim could have recent charges dropped or dismissed by completing classes. The victim was instructed to pay for the classes via Apple Pay, Zelle, and Cash App.

Common Scam Tactics

• Fake Criminal Charges & Investigations: Scammers accuse victims of fictitious crimes and threaten arrest or imprisonment unless immediate payment is made to clear charges. In some variations, scammers instruct victims to transfer funds or provide personal and banking information under the guise of an ongoing investigation.
• Jury Duty & Warrants: Impersonators claim the victim missed jury duty or a court date, or have an active warrant, and will be arrested unless a fine is paid via gift cards, peer-to-peer apps like Cash App or Paypal, in-store barcode deposits, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Recovery Scams: Fraudsters promise to help victims recover previously lost funds from other scams in exchange for upfront fees or cryptocurrency.

HPD Awareness Tips

• Real Officials Never Make Demands: Legitimate law enforcement and government agencies will never contact you to make immediate payment via any means, require your banking or personal information, or threaten you with arrest.
• Do Not Trust Caller ID: Scammers easily proof phone numbers to trick your caller ID into displaying the name and phone number of a real law enforcement or government agency.
• Protect your Money and Identity: Never send funds or share personal details in response to unsolicited calls, texts, emails, or social media messages.
• Always Verify Independently: Check suspicious claims by calling the agency back directly through their official, publicly listed number. Never use contact information provided by the scammer – a true official will accept an independent verification.

What to Do If Targeted

• Halt Contact: Immediately cease all communication with the scammer.
• Protect Accounts: Notify your bank or financial institution right away.
• Report the Crime: File an official report with HPD and submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Save Records: Keep copies of all communication and financial records.