The holiday season in Hawai‘i is a time filled with aloha—giving, gathering, honoring our kūpuna, and supporting our ‘ohana. But while we’re preparing for celebrations, scammers are preparing too. Every year, cybercriminals take advantage of the busy holiday months to target families, local businesses, and especially our seniors.
In a community where trust runs deep and generosity is part of our culture, Hawai‘i residents can be especially vulnerable. Many hesitate to speak up due to embarrassment or shame—but it’s important to remember: being scammed is never your fault. Speaking out protects not only you, but your neighbors, friends, and family.
Below are essential reminders to help you and your community stay safe, informed, and scam-free this holiday season.
Scammers often send fake emails or texts that look like delivery updates, special holiday sales, or prize notifications.
Before clicking:
✔ Pause
✔ Ask yourself if it seems legit
✔ Visit the official website directly instead
Fake QR codes and suspicious links can install malware or steal personal information. Trust your instincts—when in doubt, don’t click.
Your accounts are only as safe as your passwords.
Protect yourself with simple steps:
Create strong, unique passwords for each account
Use a password manager to keep everything organized
Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) when possible
These small habits make a major difference in stopping scammers before they even try.
Holiday shopping is one of the biggest targets for scammers.
When buying online:
Stick to trusted apps and well-known websites
Check seller reviews and contact information
Avoid deals that seem “too good to be true”
Supporting local Hawai‘i businesses is a beautiful way to give back—but make sure the seller is legitimate before sending payment or personal information.
With so many packages moving during the holidays, scammers take advantage of the confusion by sending fake delivery alerts.
If you receive a message about a shipment:
Do NOT click the link
Go directly to USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon to check your tracking number
This simple habit can prevent identity theft and financial fraud.
Many local families live paycheck to paycheck, share housing with multi-generational ‘ohana, and work multiple jobs. Scammers understand this and prey on vulnerability, urgency, and trust.
Every dollar matters—and protecting each other matters even more.
Scammers rely on shame to keep their victims quiet. Breaking that silence protects the next person.
If something feels wrong:
Talk to someone you trust
Report the scam
Encourage others to share their experiences
Your voice could prevent another Hawai‘i resident from facing the same loss.
One of the greatest gifts we can offer our community is knowledge. Share this information with your neighbors, your kūpuna, your keiki, and your coworkers. When Hawai‘i stands together, scammers don’t stand a chance.
