Fraud and financial scams affect people across Hawaii every year — and the tactics keep getting more convincing. The Hawaii Bankers Association believes a little awareness goes a long way. This page gathers trusted, plain-language information to help you recognize common scams, protect your money, and know where to turn for help.

If you think you've been targeted, start with your bank. Your bank is your first and best resource. Contact them directly using the phone number on the back of your card or on your official statement — not a number someone gave you over the phone or by text.

Common scams to watch for

Imposter scams. Someone pretends to be your bank, a government agency (IRS, Social Security, Medicare), a utility company, or even a family member in trouble. They create urgency and pressure you to act fast.

Phishing, texts, and robocalls. Fake emails, text messages, and calls designed to trick you into clicking a link or sharing a password or account number. A real bank will never text or email asking for your PIN, password, or full account number.

Scams targeting kūpuna. Older adults are frequent targets of financial exploitation — sometimes by strangers, sometimes by people they know. Warning signs include sudden account changes, secrecy about money, or pressure to send funds quickly.

Romance and "friendship" scams. A new online connection builds trust over weeks or months, then asks for money — often for an emergency, travel, or an "investment."

Investment and cryptocurrency scams. Promises of guaranteed or unusually high returns, pressure to act now, or requests to pay in cryptocurrency or gift cards are major red flags.

Payment app and check scams. Once you send money through Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App, it is often gone for good. Be wary of any check that asks you to deposit it and send part of the money back.

Scams targeting small businesses. Fake invoices, urgent emails impersonating a boss or vendor requesting a wire transfer, and last-minute changes to payment instructions should always be verified by phone before you act.

Universal red flags — when to stop and think

Be on guard any time someone:

• Pressures you to act immediately or says there is an emergency
• Asks you to keep it a secret from family or your bank
• Requests payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment app
• Asks for passwords, PINs, one-time codes, or full account numbers
• Contacts you unexpectedly claiming to be your bank or the government

When in doubt, hang up and call the organization back using a number you trust.

If you have been scammed — what to do

1. Contact your bank right away. The sooner they know, the more they may be able to do.
2. Change passwords on affected accounts and turn on alerts.
3. Report it to the agencies below — this helps protect others, too.
4. If your identity was stolen, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a step-by-step recovery plan.
5. Take care of yourself. Being targeted is not your fault — these schemes are designed to fool careful people.

Where to report fraud

• Your bank — first, using their official number
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — reportfraud.ftc.gov or 1-877-382-4357
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — ic3.gov
• Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection (DCCA) — cca.hawaii.gov/ocp
• Suspected elder financial abuse — Hawaii Department of Human Services, Adult Protective Services: humanservices.hawaii.gov
• Identity theft recovery — IdentityTheft.gov
• AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline — 1-877-908-3360 (free, open to all ages)

The Hawaii Bankers Association is a trade association that shares these resources as a public service. We are not a bank and cannot access your accounts, investigate fraud, or provide individual financial or legal advice. For help with your accounts, please contact your bank directly.