New Scam Alert

One of the best ways to protect your identity and your money is to stay aware of what scams are out there so that you don’t fall victim to one of them.

Here on the Big Island we have recently been warned about two new types of phone scams. In case you haven’t heard of them yet, here are the details:

• The first scam involves the caller offering you a loan with low interest rates, but they will require a down payment. Do not give out any personal information or pay any money to someone calling you with this offer. You should directly contact a financial institution with any questions regarding loans and special loan offers.
• The second scam involves a caller informing you that you have won a sum of money because you used your credit card at a common store, such as Target, CVS, Walmart, etc. They will often try to identify themselves as a trusted official like a lawyer or government agent, but will request a payment from you before you can claim your prize. They will often ask for this payment via wire transfers, etc. Once again, do not give out your personal information or pay any sum of money.

Stay alert for these and other possible types of scams and remember it is always better to be cautious if you aren’t sure of the validity of a phone call.