LIHUE, Hawaii — The Kauai Police Department is warning residents of con artists posing as law enforcement officials calling to solicit money.

The new phone scam involves scammers calling residents saying they have a warrant for the resident’s arrest and the only way to avoid it is to pay a fine in the form of cryptocurrency.

“Any such calls should be treated with suspicion. Refrain from disclosing your credit card details or any personal information,” said Assistant Chief Kalani Ke in a news release. “It’s crucial to report such incidents to the Kauai Police Department and remember that law enforcement agencies will never call you to demand payment of any kind.”

Called “spoofing,” scammers may manipulate the phone number shown on caller ID to make it seem as if the call is coming from a government agency, though it is not. They may also use real information about the victim to make the call appear credible.

Kauai police urge residents to keep the following preventative facts in mind should you receive a call from a scammer:

• The Kauai Police Department does not call citizens to request money. Never respond to unsolicited requests for personal information from unknown callers.
• Law enforcement agencies will never demand any kind of payment over the phone.
• A fine will never be imposed until after the individual has appeared in court and been given the opportunity to explain his or her circumstances. If a fine is imposed, it will be in open court and in writing – and will not be payable by gift card number or cryptocurrency.
• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers.
• Do not give out personal or financial information such as your Social Security number or credit card account number to unknown callers. If they say they have the information and just need you to confirm it, hang up.

KPD asks residents to immediately report any suspicious calls by contacting dispatch at 808-241-1711.