#Office of Consumer Protection
Consumer Alert: Public warned about investment scams on Meta platforms
These scams include pump-and-dump scams, confidence scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes that take advantage of victims to extract as much money from them as possible.
Consumer Alert: ACE Rent A Car Maui operations have ceased
The state of Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection is alerting consumers who have reservations with ACE Rent A Car Maui to make alternative arrangements, as OCP has confirmed with company personnel at Ace Customer Care that the company has ceased doing business on Maui and has no intention of honoring existing bookings. Travelers who pre-booked rental vehicles through this company can expect to find no shuttle service available and no personnel to assist them upon their arrival at Kahului Airport (OGG).
State officials warn of deceptive solar sales tactics
State agencies are warning Hawaiʻi residents about door-to-door salespeople falsely claiming that government programs provide free solar panels, emphasizing that state employees do not use cold-calling or home visits to sell equipment. The Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority reported receiving a recent surge in complaints involving representatives who use misleading tactics to pitch solar photovoltaic and […]
Mercedes-Benz pays states nearly $150 million in emissions cheat settlement
The state of Hawaiʻi will receive $263,356 as part of a $149.7 million multistate settlement with Mercedes-Benz over allegations the automaker used “defeat devices” to bypass emission standards. The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection joined a coalition of 50 attorneys general in the settlement with Mercedes-Benz USA LLC and […]
Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection reaches $6 million settlement with PayPal
The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection has reached a $6 million settlement with PayPal Inc. and PayPal Holdings Inc.
State gets $79.9K from Wireless Carriers in settlement over deceptive and misleading advertising practices
The state of Hawai‘i will receive $79,928.66 in a settlement with Wireless Carriers, announced the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Office of Consumer Protection on May 10.
OCP urges Hawai‘i consumers to seek refunds for Outback Steakhouse gift cards
The Office of Consumer Protection is urging Hawai‘i consumers who purchased and are holding unredeemed Outback Steakhouse gift cards, to seek refunds.
Update on price freeze for commodity sales, landlord-tenant code for the Island of Maui
This price freeze, which is scheduled to remain in effect until Nov. 6, 2023, unless terminated or superseded by separate emergency proclamation, does not extend beyond the Island of Maui. During this declared emergency, the price freeze now in effect for the Island of Maui means that the essential goods and services that are subject to the price freeze must be sold at pre-emergency price levels.
State announces distribution of payment from $141M settlement with Intuit
Consumers who were “deceived” by TurboTax’s owner Intuit Inc. into paying for free tax services will begin receiving checks from a multi-million multi-state settlement. Up to 15,904 Hawaiʻi consumers who were impacted, will receive checks in the mail. Most consumers are expected to receive between $29 and $30.
Utility companies outline latest scam tactics targeting Hawaiʻi consumers
“Cryptocurrency is not accepted as payment for any utility service in Hawaiʻi, whether electricity, phone, internet, gas or water,” said Stephen Levins, executive director of the State of Hawaiʽi Office of Consumer Protection.
Hawai’i will receive $182,000 in Experian data breach settlements involving T-mobile
The settlement also requires Experian to offer 5 years of free credit monitoring services to affected consumers, and two free copies of their credit reports annually during that timeframe.
Hawaiʻi Utility Companies Warn about Scams over the Holidays
With scam calls, phishing and more elaborate schemes on the rise, Hawaiʽi utility companies are reminding customers to remain vigilant as scammers ramp up their activity during the holidays.
