Hawai‘i Island Police are reminding the public of a phone scam involving individuals who call Hilo residents while posing as law enforcement officers in an effort to obtain money as payment for outstanding arrest warrants.

According to police, suspects contact victims and inform them that they have an outstanding warrant for their arrest. To avoid arrest, victims are  told they will need to transfer money by utilizing Coinstar kiosk machines. The suspects have been providing fictitious credentials including their name, agency, badge number, and telephone number.

The Hawai‘i County Police Department does not ask for, nor accept payment through Coinstar machines or Bitcoin Crypto-Currency as any form of payment.

HPD suggests the following recommendations to avoid being scammed:

• Verify the caller’s identity: Always request the full name, identification number, and contact information of the caller. Legitimate law enforcement officers will provide this information without hesitation. Verify their credentials by contacting the police department or the agency they claim to represent using publicly available contact information.

• Refrain from sharing personal information: Avoid disclosing personal details, such as your Social Security number, bank account information, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive data over the phone unless you are absolutely certain about the legitimacy of the caller.

• Be cautious of urgent or coercive tactics: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, coercing victims into immediate action. They may threaten arrest, fines, or legal consequences to pressure you into revealing personal information or making immediate payments. Take a step back, remain calm, and verify the authenticity of the call before making any decisions or taking action.

• Educate yourself and others: Share this information with your friends, family, and vulnerable individuals within your community. By spreading awareness, we can collectively protect ourselves and prevent these scams from succeeding.

Anyone who receives a phone call of this nature should immediately hang up and call the police department’s non-emergency number at 935-3311.