MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawai’i Police Department is warning the public about a scam that was reported last week in Hilo.

A 79-year-old Hilo woman reported that she received a phone call from someone posing as a mainland relative. The caller, who sounded frantic, said that he had been in a traffic accident while under the influence of alcohol and that his attorney would get the DUI charges dropped if he could pay for property damaged from the crash. The caller instructed the victim to send the funds by Money Gram and then call the “attorney” to confirm the money had been sent.

Two days later, the person posing as the relative called again asking for more money, claiming the first payment was being held pending the investigation.

Police ask anyone who receives a similar call to contact the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.