#utility scam

Hawaiian Electric is alerting customers to a string of scams mostly targeting businesses on Oʻahu and Maui that are likely connected, including an incident last week involving a man who approached the front desk of a Waikīkī hotel and warned that power would be shut off within an hour if payment was not made by calling “Hawaiian Electric.”

During the holiday hustle and bustle, scammers often target unsuspecting utility customers. Today, on national Utility Scam Awareness Day, Hawaiian Electric warns customers to guard against criminals taking aim at their hard-earned money.

Today is Utility Scam Awareness Day and Hawaiian Electric wants to remind customers that it doesn’t accept payment via cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, gift cards or money transfer.

In some recent cases, scammers have contacted real estate agents and threatened to immediately shut off power to their listing if payment was not made.

Hawaiian Electric has received dozens of fraud reports from across its five-island service area since late last week, with “many more likely going unreported.” On Wednesday alone, there were 23 fraud reports received on Oʻahu by 1 p.m.

Scammers are demanding payments in the digital currency known as bitcoin with threats of discontinuing electric services for customers in Hawaiʻi.

The company issued a warning to customers today, saying dozens of small business customers across the state have reported receiving calls saying their electric bill is delinquent and that they’re subject to same-day disconnection.