HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH KOHALA PATROL DISTRICT
OFFICER THOMAS W. WRIGHT
PHONE: 887-3080
DECEMBER 12, 2001
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police are warning the public about another apparent scam, this one originating in British Columbia.
A South Kohala resident called police in Waimea to report he had received a telephone call telling him he had won a $1.5 million lottery.
The intended victim was told that by sending a cashier’s check for $499, he would receive $60,000 a week or $240,000 a month tax-free until he received a total of $1.5 million. He was told to send the money to a “Joel Meredith” in Minister British Columbia and was given an 800 telephone number to call.
Officers called the number, but could not reach anyone, and concluded the offer was a scam.
They advised anyone losing money in such a scam to call the U.S. Secret Service in Honolulu at (808) 541-1912.
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