One of the trending online fraud schemes involves being contacted by either friends or relatives via email or through social networking services like Facebook about receiving large amounts of money through investments, a class action lawsuit, or even a random contest drawing.
However, these “friends” or “relatives” are NOT who they claim to be, but online fraudsters impersonating the subject’s real friends and relatives. They try to convince the subject that the scheme, whatever it may be, is legitimate and, once doing so, then introduce them to another party to assist the subject in obtaining the funds. Again, this person is just another fraudster in the scam and may even be the same person who claims to be the subject’s friend/relative!
The best thing to do in these situations is not respond at all. If it becomes a nuisance, block the sender or unfriend that “friend.”
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
1060 Richards St., Honolulu HI 96813
808-768-7400 | Office hrs: Mon – Fri, 7:45 am – 4:30 pm
www.honoluluprosecutor.org/contact-us/
