Scams targeting older adults are sadly becoming more common across Hawai‘i. While financial loss is often the focus, another kind of harm quietly takes root—shame, blame, and silence. Many kūpuna never speak up after being scammed because they fear judgment from their family, friends, or caregivers.
As a community rooted in aloha, it’s time we shift our response from criticism to compassion.
Fraudsters are professional manipulators. They use fear, urgency, trust, and even love to trick people into giving up money or personal information. It’s a myth that scams only happen to the naïve or uneducated. Age, intelligence, and experience are no guarantees of protection.
By blaming scam victims, we reinforce harmful stereotypes and discourage others from speaking up when it happens to them.
The next time someone you know is scammed, lead with empathy:
Creating a safe, supportive space helps the healing begin. When kūpuna feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to report the fraud, protect themselves in the future, and help others avoid similar traps.
Here are 5 compassionate ways to support scam victims in your community:
Reinforce this truth: The scammer is the criminal. No one deserves to be taken advantage of.
Teach red flags: pressure to act fast, requests for gift card payments, unsolicited messages asking for personal or financial details.
Guide kūpuna to report scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) or the FTC. Reporting helps authorities track and stop scammers.
Helpful tools include:
Recovery isn’t just financial. Emotional wounds from fraud can linger. Let kūpuna know you’re still there for them weeks or months later.
Hawai‘i’s sense of ohana teaches us to care for one another with respect and dignity. When we respond to scams with judgment, we isolate those who need help the most. But when we respond with understanding and action, we open the door to healing and protection.
Let’s end the shame. Let’s support our kūpuna with aloha—always.
