Scammers Claim to be DEA, Using Narcotics Division Phone Number

The Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division is alerting the public of a recent phone scam in which scammers are using the NED main office telephone number, in an effort to fool physician offices into thinking they are in trouble with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Under the scam, the caller tells the person who picks up to pay money to get charges cleared, otherwise they face arrest.

This is similar to other recent phone scams where the call comes in from what appears to be a local government number. The number is usually spoofed, or cloned, to fool people into thinking it is a legitimate caller.

“We want to remind people just because the call shows a local phone number, does not make it legitimate, and the best course of action is to not answer numbers you don’t recognize,” officials from the Hawaiʻi Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

“The Narcotics Enforcement Division will never ask for personal information or solicit payment over the phone. They will never say they are representing another agency. Hawaiʻi residents are also advised not to provide credit card numbers or other personal information to callers claiming to represent a law enforcement agency or the courts,” a spokesperson with the department said.

If a call matching this scam is received, the public is advised to alert the Sheriff Division by calling (808) 586-1352.