Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Hawaii
Hawaii seniors reported $55 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 917 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Hawaii-specific scam prevention resources, official reporting contacts, and five years of FBI elder fraud data for the state.
Already been scammed? Read our First 24 Hours Emergency Guide for critical steps to take immediately.
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.
In 2025, Hawaii’s elder fraud losses nearly tripled — from $19 million to $55 million (+194%), one of the steepest increases in the nation. Investment scams exploded to $38.7 million (+295%), now accounting for 70% of all losses. Tech support fraud also surged (+169%). Scammers may exploit cultural respect for authority, language diversity, or geographic isolation, making awareness and early reporting essential.
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. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Hawaii’s Seniors
In 2025, Hawaii had 917 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $55,385,929 — up 42% in victims and 194% in losses compared to 2024 (647 victims / $19M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $38,736,570 | $9,809,411 | +295% |
| Tech Support | $4,779,321 | $1,779,696 | +169% |
| Romance | $2,963,258 | $2,248,407 | +32% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $634,594 | $4,000 | +15765% |
| Extortion | $2,500 | $62,699 | -96% |
| Government Impersonation | $1,666,964 | $483,660 | +245% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Hawaii
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Hawaii (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 408 | $10,061,508 | — | #31 |
| 2022 | 399 | $16,334,492 | +62% | #35 |
| 2023 | 454 | $27,965,497 | +71% | #28 |
| 2024 | 647 | $18,851,052 | -33% | #40 |
| 2025 | 917 | $55,385,929 | +194% | #32 |
| 5-Year Total | 2,825 | $128,598,478 | +450% (2021—2025) | — |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021—2025. Covers victims aged 60 and older. National rank is by total dollar loss among 52 states/territories. National totals: $1.6B (2021), $3.0B (2022), $3.3B (2023), $4.7B (2024), $7.4B (2025) — $20.1 billion stolen from American seniors over five years.
Top Crime Types Targeting Hawaii Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Investment | 121 | $38,736,570 | $81,556,814 | +1,020% |
| Tech Support | 120 | $4,779,321 | $11,985,318 | +634% |
| Romance | 64 | $2,963,258 | $7,503,831 | New |
| BEC | 57 | $2,804,065 | $5,277,700 | New |
| Gov. Impersonation | 89 | $1,666,964 | $3,024,278 | +3,032% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 23 | $634,594 | $2,573,107 | +652% |
Top 6 crime types by 2025 losses. Growth calculated from 2021 to 2025. For national crime type trends, see our Crime Type Migration Analysis.
What the data reveals: Hawaii’s elder fraud losses nearly tripled in 2025 — from $19 million to $55 million (+194%), with 917 seniors victimized. Investment scams alone grew from $9.8 million to $38.7 million (+295%), now representing 70% of all Hawaii senior fraud losses. Tech support fraud surged 169%, and lottery/sweepstakes rose from near-zero to over $4 million. Romance scams were one of few categories that decreased (-18%). Approximately 1 in every 1,527 Hawaii residents aged 60+ reported being a victim.
National context: Hawaii ranks #32 in total losses but #19 in per-capita victim rate (63.39 per 100,000), above the national midpoint. The 194% year-over-year loss increase is more than three times the national average of 57% — the steepest growth rate in the Pacific region. Investment scams accounting for 70% of losses is one of the highest single-category concentrations of any state, suggesting a targeted campaign against Hawaii’s seniors. Hawaii’s island geography and tight-knit communities can be both a vulnerability (isolation) and a strength (word-of-mouth awareness spreads fast).
For the full national picture, including how Hawaii compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
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.
IV. Learn More: Hawaii Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Hawaii-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Hawaii — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Hawaii — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Hawaii — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Hawaii — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Hawaii — Step-by-step guide to reporting fraud and starting recovery.
For national-level data on each scam type, see our Investment, Tech Support, Romance, and Government Impersonation national guides.
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