KAHULUI, Hawaii — The Maui County Department of Housing and Human Concerns warns about a new scam claiming to assist individuals with Section 8 housing vouchers.
According to county officials, the scam is being posted by “Section 8 Housing” on social media platforms. It claims that Section 8 will “open the waitlist by accepting applications from May 22 to June 15” and that families can use vouchers to purchase a home and receive monthly assistance to meet homeownership costs. It also claims applications will be reviewed in two weeks with no year-long waitlists.
Officials encourage the public to flag and report the scam to social media platforms hosting the information.
“This prank is especially cruel, so we appreciate people getting the word out that these Section 8 claims are not valid,” said County Department of Housing and Human Concerns Director Lori Tsuhako in a news release.
In recent days, the department has received calls from Maui residents looking to apply, but there are no plans to open the Section 8 application process in the immediate future.
The public is warned to be wary of unverified programs and individuals seeking personal details. Scammers can use personal information such as a social security number, address, and/or birth date to commit fraud.
Section 8 is a housing choice voucher program available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, often administered by individual counties. It helps secure housing for low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities. Click for more information on HUD and Section 8.