HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
EAST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
CAPTAIN SAMUEL THOMAS
PHONE: 961-2255
JULY 26, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police are warning businesses to be aware of a credit card scam used to order merchandise.

Police said a Puna auto parts company got a text telephone (TTY) call Thursday (July 22, 2004) from an individual who ordered 10 fuel pumps valued at about $200 each.

The caller gave the credit card number, but when the intended victim checked on the number, the number was rejected. The caller then gave another credit card number, but it, too, was rejected.

When the intended victim called his auto parts supplier in Honolulu to check if he had enough of the fuel pumps available, he was warned that a similar scam had been used on Oahu.

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