SO, YOU’VE BEEN SCAMMED

Scammers are professionals and are good at what they do. They make money by taking your money and are prevalent and persistent in both the on-line and physical worlds. It is no shame to have been scammed given how good they are. The following are some things you can do and resources you can contact should you have been scammed. Note that this list was accurate at the time of creation, but can change over time. Current contact information for the resources listed should be researched at the time you need their assistance.

IMMEDIATE RESPONDERS (First 24 – 72 Hour)

Financial institutions act fastest to limit monetary loss; law enforcement and federal agencies investigate patterns and larger schemes; consumer protection agencies record complaints and may initiate civil enforcement; victim‑service NGOs provide emotional and practical recovery support. Expect some actions (like bank chargebacks) to be immediate and others (law enforcement investigations, restitution) to take weeks or months.

Bank or credit card issuer — call immediately to stop or dispute transactions, freeze accounts, and request chargeback or reversal.
Local police — file a police report for theft or fraud; required by some banks/insurers and helpful when asserting identity theft.
State attorney general consumer protection office — report the scam and get local guidance on remedies and state resources.
Federal agencies — submit complaints to the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov) for consumer fraud and to the FBI IC3 for internet-enabled charity and imposter scams.

IDENTITY & CREDIT RECOVERY

IdentityTheft.gov — step‑by‑step recovery plan, sample letters, and the ability to create an identity‑theft report that helps place fraud alerts and freezes.
Major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — place a fraud alert or credit freeze; request free copies of your credit report and dispute fraudulent accounts.
Bankruptcy or credit counseling agencies — for severe financial damage, consult certified nonprofit credit counselors or legal aid for options.

FEDERAL & NATIONAL VICTIM-SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

To protect yourself from scams, it’s important to understand how scammers operate when it comes to charity scams.

Online methods
Fake websites, cloned donation pages, social posts, and paid ads redirect unsuspecting consumers to scam pages, email phishing, and fake crowdfunding campaigns. They often harvest donor contact and payment data for future scams. Scammers count on people being in a hurry and not being observant about the webpage they visit. Impersonating a legitimate website though slight misspellings of their web address is a common technique used to make this approach effective.
Phone, text, and robocalls
Scammers call or text claiming to be from a charity, sometimes spoofing phone numbers or using recorded urgent appeals to pressure immediate giving. People tend to be more trusting of phone numbers within their same area code and scammers take advantage of this by spoofing a local phone number. Many of these numbers are unused so are not being tracked. Spoofing is supported by telecommunication companies operating in countries that do not regulate this behavior (such as Jamaica).
In‑person and street solicitations
Individuals with clipboards, badges, or fake ID collect donations on sidewalks or at events; they may claim to be collecting for disaster relief, veterans, or first responders. Hawaii residents tend to be trusting and often believe people who are advocating for a good cause or to help out others who are victims of a legitimate disaster. Scammers are taking advantage of local people’s inherent politeness and tendency to believe what they are told.

NON-PROFIT & COMMUNITY SUPPORT (Emotional + Practical)

Give an Hour, SCARS, and similar support groups — trauma‑informed counseling and peer support programs for scam survivors.
Local nonprofit victim‑assistance programs — many states and larger counties offer victim advocates who can help navigate reporting, victim compensation, and referrals.
Community senior services and elder‑abuse programs — target support for kūpuna or other high‑risk groups, including counseling and case management.

HAWAII SPECIFIC RESOURCES

Office of the Attorney General of Hawaii, Consumer Protection Division — to report scams and get state‑level guidance and enforcement.
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) — consumer complaints, licensing checks for solicitors, and guidance on door‑to‑door fundraising rules.
County police departments and local victim services — file local reports and get referrals to social and financial support services.
Local nonprofits and health systems — many Hawai‘i organizations run outreach for older adults after scams, offering “no blame” counseling and resources.

LEGAL HELP & RECOVERY THROUGH COURT OR RESTITUTION

Private attorneys (consumer protection / elder law / civil fraud) — can pursue restitution, asset recovery, or civil suits when losses are large or traceable.
Pro bono legal services and legal aid — many jurisdictions have programs that assist low‑ and moderate‑income victims with fraud claims and paperwork.
State enforcement actions — state attorneys general can pursue civil penalties and restitution against operators of fraudulent charities.