Protecting Hawaii Seniors from Romance Scams
Romance scams are among the most emotionally devastating forms of fraud targeting older adults. In 2025, 64 Hawaii seniors reported romance scam complaints to the FBI. These scams exploit loneliness and the desire for connection, draining victims of their savings while leaving deep emotional wounds.
Why Hawaii Seniors Are Especially Vulnerable
Hawaii’s demographics and culture create specific risk factors for romance scams:
- Island isolation: Hawaii’s geographic isolation means seniors have limited access to mainland resources, making phone and online “help” seem like the only option
- High cost of living: Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the nation, making seniors on fixed incomes especially vulnerable to financial promises and investment scams
- Military retiree community: Hawaii’s large military retiree population is specifically targeted by scammers impersonating VA and military benefits offices
- Multicultural population: Hawaii’s diverse population includes seniors who may be targeted with language-specific scams or cultural exploitation
- Tourism-driven economy: Scammers exploit Hawaii’s tourism connections with fake vacation timeshare investments and travel-related fraud
5-Year Trend: Romance Scam Losses in Hawaii (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 28 | $2.0M | — |
| 2022 | 22 | $1.4M | -33% |
| 2023 | 25 | $925K | -32% |
| 2024 | 46 | $2.2M | +143% |
| 2025 | 64 | $3.0M | +32% |
| 5-Year Total | 185 | $9.5M | +46% |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021–2025. Victims and losses for Hawaii residents aged 60 and older.
Hawaii ranks #40 nationally in romance scam losses targeting seniors, with $3.0 million lost in 2025 across 64 reported victims. Year over year, losses changed +32%, outperforming the national average of +46%. Over the full five-year period, romance scam losses in Hawaii grew +46%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Romance Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Romance Scams in Hawaii
- Office of the Hawaii Attorney General: (808) 586-1500 | ag.hawaii.gov
- Hawaii Adult Protective Services: (808) 832-5115
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- Dating platform: Report the profile on the platform where you were contacted
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from romance scams:
→ Start Romance Scam Awareness Training (Module 4)