HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Officials are urging the public to be on the lookout for potential fraud and scam activity following the recent Kona low flooding.
The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), say that after a disaster, scam artists will attempt to take advantage of disaster survivors.
Bad actors may attempt to exploit individuals posing as aid agencies, government officials, or charitable organizations.
The public is advised to take the following precautions to protect themselves and their families:
- Do not share personal information with unknown callers. Legitimate agencies like FEMA or DEM will not request sensitive information unexpectedly.
- Do not trust individuals asking for money. Government disaster assistance programs will not require upfront fees.
- If you suspect fraud, report it! The City…
Insurance fraud involves making false or exaggerated claims to an insurance provider.
- Hard Fraud: Someone deliberately causes a loss (e.g., setting fire to a warehouse or staging a car accident) specifically to collect a payout.
- Soft Fraud: More common and often viewed as “victimless” by the perpetrator. It involves exaggerating a legitimate claim, such as overstating the value of stolen items in a home burglary to cover the deductible.