HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH HILO PATROL DIVISION
OFFICERS REYNOLD KAHALEWAI & JOEL L. FIELD
PHONE: 961-2311
MARCH 7, 2002
G-99074
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police are warning the public about yet another apparent telephone scam, this one originating from Montreal in Quebec, Canada.
A Hilo resident reported that his father had received a phone call from a person telling him he had won a $75,000 cash prize. The son said his father was told that in order to collect the prize, however, he would have to “wire” an undisclosed amount of money via Western Union to a person in Canada.
The older man was told the money was required for several reasons, to include insurance purposes and to authorize the release of the prize money.
Police were also told that one of the persons whom the money was “wired” to claimed that he was coming to Hilo to award the older man his “prize money” and told the man to meet him at the Hilo International Airport. The father attempted to meet the man on two occasions, but the man never showed up.
The victim said he had wired money to a “Terry Burke,” “Glenn Curry,” “Eric Boyce” and “Peter Jackson” at a Montreal location.
Investigating officers determined that the money had been picked up in Canada, but when they called a number the Canadians had given the victim, they could not reach anybody. They concluded the offer was a phone scam.
Police are advising anyone losing money in such a scam to call the U.S. Secret Service in Honolulu at (808) 541-1912.
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