HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA PATROL DIVISION
LIEUTENANT PAUL KEALOHA
PHONE: 326-4257
JANUARY 21, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police are warning Kona residents and small businesses about a possible scam involving the sale of a cleaning liquid.

Police said that over the past week, a man claiming to be a salesman has been visiting small businesses in Kona and allegedly selling them a popular cleaning product.

The “salesman” takes the order for the product and asks the buyers to write out a check to a third person he claims is his boss. On receiving the check, he leaves, saying he’ll return with the cleaning liquid, but never returns.

So far the “salesman” has hit at least two Kona businesses, police said. Fortunately, the businesses were able to stop the checks before they could be cashed, they said.

# # #