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Kauai Police Warn Residents of Cryptocurrency Phone Scam
LIHUE, Hawaii — The Kauai Police Department is warning residents about scammers impersonating law enforcement officers calling to solicit money.
What you need to know
- Called “spoofing,” scammers can manipulate the phone number shown on caller ID to make it appear as if the call is coming from a government agency, even if it isn’t
- They can also use real information about the victim to make the call seem credible
- KPD asks residents to immediately report any suspicious calls by contacting the dispatcher at 808-241-1711
The new phone scam involves scammers calling residents saying they have a warrant for the resident’s arrest and the only way to avoid it is to pay a fine in the form of cryptocurrency.
“Any such calls should be treated with suspicion. Refrain from revealing your credit card details or any personal information,” Deputy Chief Kalani Ke said in a press release. “It is critical to report such incidents to the Kauai Police Department and remember that law enforcement will never call you to demand payment of any kind.”
Called “spoofing,” scammers can manipulate the phone number shown on caller ID to make it appear as if the call is coming from a government agency, even if it isn’t. They can also use real information about the victim to make the call seem credible.
Kauai Police urge residents to keep the following precautions in mind should you receive a call from a scammer:
- The Kauai Police Department does not call citizens to request money. Never respond to unsolicited requests for personal information from unknown callers.
- Law enforcement will never request any type of payment over the phone.
- A fine will never be imposed until the individual has appeared in court and been given the opportunity to explain their situation. If a fine is imposed, it will be in court and in writing – and will not be payable via gift card number or cryptocurrency.
- Do not answer calls from unknown numbers.
- Do not give out personal or financial information such as your Social Security number or credit card account number to unknown callers. If they say they have the information and just need you to confirm it, hang up.
KPD asks residents to immediately report any suspicious calls by contacting the dispatcher at 808-241-1711.