The Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) has issued a warning to the public about callers impersonating law enforcement officers. These individuals are reportedly intimidating people with false information regarding impending or nonexistent court cases.
According to the DLE, these callers may claim that the person they have contacted faces arrest for failing to appear for a court hearing or jury duty. They might also suggest that payment in the form of bail or a civil fee will resolve the matter.
"Please know that law enforcement agencies will not call to solicit any form of payment," stated the DLE. "Therefore, do not provide credit card or bank account information to anyone who calls saying they are a law enforcement officer."
The department also highlighted that scammers might "spoof" real DLE phone numbers, making it appear as though their call is legitimate when it is actually coming from another number, often outside Hawai‘i. These scammers frequently mispronounce street addresses with Hawaiian names or reference government offices not found in Hawai‘i, such as the District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone who receives a call they believe to be fraudulent is encouraged to contact the Department of Law Enforcement at 808-586-1352.