MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawai’i Police Department is investigating a report that a 78-year-old Hilo woman was scammed for $6,000.

The woman reported that an unknown Caucasian man approached her at her home at 11 a.m. on December 15. He said he was doing sewer repair for a business next to her house and he had to tap into her sewer line to do the work. He said the cost to do the repair would be approximately $6,000 and told her the business next door would reimburse her.

The woman gave the man the money. When she confronted the business, she was informed that she had possibly been the victim of a scam.

Police have initiated a theft report and caution the public to beware of anyone making a similar claim.

Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call Officer Anson Caceres at 961-2213. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.