Honolulu Crime Stoppers

Crime Awareness

CrimeStoppers News Release

11/9/07

Travelers Check Scam Alert

CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department want to inform the public about an internet scam involving forged travelers checks and money orders.

Since August there have been seven forgery cases where people have responded to internet requests to cash American Express travelers checks or Wal-Mart money orders. In exchange for their assistance, they were supposed to keep a percentage of the money cashed. Instead these seven individuals were arrested for forgery.

In one case, a female responded to ad for a business opportunity and was sent three $500 American Express travelers checks. Her husband tried cashing the checks at a supermarket and was arrested for forgery. If the checks had been accepted, he was to keep 10 percent of the total amount cashed and mail the balance to the originator.

People may believe that opportunities like this are risk-free because they do not require any money up front. However, the risk comes when an individual who tries to cash a forged check gets arrested for forgery.

Remember, if it looks too good to be true…

KITV-TV

4:46 p.m. HST July 18, 2007

Counterfeit $100 Bills

HONOLULU - Thousands of dollars worth of counterfeit $100 bills are flowing into Hawaii, most likely from Los Angeles-based gangs, according to Secret Service officials. For the last week or so, $2,000 to $2,500 a day in counterfeit $100 bills have been passed at retail stores in Waikiki and across the islands, the Secret Service said. Some high-end Hawaii retailers are taking a hit.

"These are counterfeit $100 bills. They're being passed all over Waikiki as well as the shopping centers," U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Al Joaquin said. (go to KITV web site for more)