HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
WEST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
DETECTIVE WM. GARY SOUTHER
PHONE: 326-4231
AUGUST 18, 2003
MEDIA RELEASE
Police are warning Big Island residents about another telephone scam in which residents are informed they have won a lottery.
But before the “winner” can collect his winnings, however, he is told he must send money via Western Union to an address, this time in Canada.
The latest scam has involved two residents in West Hawaii.
Police caution residents to avoid all schemes in which they are asked to send money in order to collect their “winnings.” Legitimate lotteries don’t require a “winner” to send money.
Police also advise victims of telephone scams to call the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
In addition, if there is a question of whether a lottery is legitimate or not, residents are advised to call the local Office of Consumer Protection at 933-0910, the toll free number at the Better Business Bureau in Honolulu at 1 (877) 222-6551 or the toll free number of the Federal Trade Commission at 1 (877) 382-4357.
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