HPD warns Big Island residents of warrant phone scam after Kona incident

The Hawai‘i Police Department (HPD) is alerting Big Island residents after a 75-year-old Kona man reported a phone scam in which callers impersonated HPD officers and demanded payment for alleged warrants. The incident, reported on January 22, 2026, highlights a deceptive tactic that can place vulnerable community members at financial and emotional risk.

In the Kona case, an unknown male caller used caller ID spoofing to make the call appear to come from the Kona police station. The caller supplied the name of a former police officer and a badge number, then claimed the victim had two outstanding warrants totaling $7,000. When the victim said he would go to a police station in person, the caller instructed him to bring his driver’s license and to prove payment by depositing $7,000 into a vending machine at a Kona retail business. An employee at that retail business intervened and prevented the victim from being defrauded; the man then reported the attempt to HPD.

HPD officials emphasized that while Hawai‘i Island officers sometimes contact individuals with outstanding warrants as a courtesy to encourage voluntary surrender, they will never request payment over the phone. The department warned residents that requests for payment via vending machines, gift cards or bitcoin are hallmarks of fraud and should be treated as such. Caller ID can be manipulated, and scammers may use real-sounding names and badge numbers to appear legitimate.

The local impact is significant: the scam targeted an elderly resident and used coercive tactics intended to create panic and rapid compliance. Seniors, people caring for kupuna, and those unfamiliar with digital caller ID manipulation are particularly at risk. For Kona and other Big Island communities, the episode reinforces the need for neighborhood kōkua and awareness, retail staff who noticed suspicious activity helped stop a theft from occurring.

HPD recommends that residents hang up if they are unsure about a caller’s authenticity and call police dispatch at (808) 935-3311 to be routed to the appropriate district station. Residents should refrain from sharing Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card information over the phone unless they have independently verified the caller. Be wary of urgent or coercive tactics that pressure immediate payment or disclosure. Crime prevention information and additional safety tips are available at hawaiipolice.gov.

For local follow-up, contact the Kona Community Policing Section, Sergeant Wyattlane Nahale, at (808) 326-4646 ext. 259. The Kona incident serves as a reminder that vigilance and prompt reporting can protect our kupuna and neighbors; keep phones on your radar, verify before you act, and share this alert with family and ʻohana.