Protecting Hawaii Seniors from Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation scams are surging nationwide, and Hawaii seniors are not immune. In 2025, 89 older adults in Hawaii reported government impersonation fraud to the FBI. Scammers pose as officials from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or law enforcement to frighten seniors into sending money or revealing personal information.
Why Hawaii Seniors Are Targeted
Hawaii’s population and culture create specific vulnerabilities that government impersonation scammers exploit:
- 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: Government Impersonation Scam Losses in Hawaii (2021–2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Losses | YoY Change |
| 2021 | 19 | $53K | — |
| 2022 | 10 | $509K | +857% |
| 2023 | 24 | $311K | -39% |
| 2024 | 52 | $484K | +56% |
| 2025 | 89 | $1.7M | +245% |
| 5-Year Total | 194 | $3.0M | +3032% |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021–2025. Victims and losses for Hawaii residents aged 60 and older.
Hawaii ranks #34 nationally in government impersonation scam losses targeting seniors, with $1.7 million lost in 2025 across 89 reported victims. Year over year, losses surged +245% — significantly faster than the national average of +95%. Over the full five-year period, government impersonation scam losses in Hawaii grew +3032%.
Complete guide: For detailed warning signs, protection strategies, and what to do if you’ve been targeted, read our comprehensive Government Impersonation Scam Prevention Guide. You can also take our free Online Training courses to test your knowledge.
Report Government Impersonation Scams in Hawaii
- Office of the Hawaii Attorney General: (808) 586-1500 | ag.hawaii.gov
- Social Security OIG: oig.ssa.gov
- IRS: irs.gov/report-phishing
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- Hawaii Adult Protective Services: (808) 832-5115
Free Training Available
Take our free online course to learn more about protecting yourself from government impersonation scams:
→ Start Government Impersonation Scam Awareness Training (Module 5)