Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Hawaii
I. Overview: Hawaii’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, Hawaii has a population of approximately 1.4 million, with over 290,000 residents aged 65 and older , representing roughly 20.7% of the state’s population. This high proportion ranks Hawaii among the top U.S. states for senior population share.
Older adults in Hawaii are increasingly targeted by scams involving Medicare fraud, imposter calls, online romance and tech support fraud, and real estate or investment schemes. Scammers may exploit cultural respect for authority, language diversity, or social isolation , especially among seniors living alone or far from extended family.
The top three cities where scams are most frequently reported among seniors are:
- Honolulu (approx. 345,000 people)
- Hilo (approx. 45,000 people)
- Kailua (Oahu) (approx. 38,000 people)
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Hawaii’s Seniors
In 2024, Hawaii had 647 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $18,851,052.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $9,809,411 |
| Tech Support | $1,779,696 |
| Government Impersonation | $483,660 |
| Romance | $2,248,407 |
III. Emergency and Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud and Financial Crimes
1. Honolulu Police Department – Financial Crimes Detail
- Phone: (808) 529-3111 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.honolulupd.org
- Ask for the Financial Crimes or Elder Abuse unit to report scams.
2. Hawaii County Police Department (Hilo Area)
- Phone: (808) 935-3311 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.hawaiipolice.com
- Serves Hilo and surrounding Big Island communities.
3. Kailua (Oahu) Police – District 4 (Windward Oahu)
- Phone: (808) 261-1234 (non-emergency)
- Website: www.honolulupd.org/district-4
- Serves Kailua, Kaneohe, and Windward Coast areas.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Honolulu Field Office
- Phone: (808) 566-4300
- Website: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/honolulu
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- Report online scams, phishing, fraud, tech support hoaxes, and digital financial crimes.
Hawaii Attorney General – Elder Fraud and Consumer Protection
Hawaii Department of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection Unit
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (808) 586-2630
- Website: ag.hawaii.gov
- Offers scam alerts, consumer complaint forms, and elder fraud prevention information.
Statewide Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
Hawaii Adult Protective Services (APS)
- To report elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation:
Oahu APS: (808) 832-5115
Neighbor Islands Toll-Free: (888) 380-3088 - Website: humanservices.hawaii.gov
- Oversees investigations into abuse and exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Hawaii Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 296-9422
- Website: hawaiiSMP.org
- Helps detect and report Medicare fraud, billing errors, and identity theft.
Hawaii Executive Office on Aging (EOA)
- Info Line: (808) 586-0100
- Website: health.hawaii.gov/eoa
- Provides elder rights education, fraud prevention, legal assistance, and caregiver resources.
Island-Wise Safety for Kupuna
- Hawaii’s kupuna lose millions annually to preventable scams. Most fraud begins with phone calls, emails, or fake websites.
- These trusted contacts are your line of defense. If something doesn’t feel right, pause, verify, and ask for help.
- Visit our Education Center to explore common scams, warning signs, and safe reporting steps.
- You are not alone. Awareness is the first step to protection.
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