The Maui Police Department has been made aware of a recurring scam involving spoofed phone calls targeting members of our community. We urge you to remain vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from falling victim to these fraudulent activities.
The scam involves spoof callers claiming to be Maui Police Department representatives. Spoofing is a highly deceptive technique for manipulating caller ID information, making it appear that the call comes from a legitimate source, such as a government agency, financial institution, or even a known contact.
The caller tells call recipients that a warrant, missed jury duty, or some other legal sanction is pending against them. The caller then demands immediate payment via cryptocurrency, online payment apps such as Cash App, Venmo, etc., or other means, such as a gift card or credit card.
Please note that no law enforcement or government agency will attempt to “clear up” warrants or other legal sanctions over the phone, nor will they ever request your financial information to do so over the phone.
Scammers will often:
• Sound official and use legitimate names of law enforcement personnel.
• Call on the weekends or after hours when most institutions are closed.
• Be forceful and may bargain or barter on the payment amount or payment method if the victim questions it or says they do not have enough or do not know how to use the desired payment method.
Some tips to keep in mind:
• Do not provide ANY information to the caller.
• Do not contact the email/number the caller gives; instead, contact the organization directly via the official website of said organization.
If you gave personal information or sent money/gift cards, please report the incident to the Maui Police Department at 808-244-6400.
