HPD warns public of scammers using malware to con victims out of cash

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Honolulu CrimeStoppers needs your help to catch suspects in theft and animal cruelty cases.
You can remain anonymous, and if a tip leads to an arrest, you can earn a reward of up to $1,000.
HPD Sgt. Chris Kim joined HNN‘s Sunrise to warn the public of a scam in which criminals are using malware to con victims into giving them cash to fix their computers.
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 6 a.m., a complainant received a pop-up on his computer screen appearing to be from Microsoft stating his computer was infected with malware. He called the phone number in the pop-up, and a female instructed him to withdraw cash from his bank and place it in a cardboard box. The female informed him that a courier would pick up the money and provide a passcode. At 5 p.m., a female suspect arrived on foot at the complainant’s residence on Kakiwa Place, provided a passcode, and took the box containing the cash. She is described as a Caucasian female in her early 20s, 5′2″ to 5′4″, 120 to 140 lbs. with a slim build, black hair, wearing a blue pants, plaid long sleeve shirt, and white shoes.
The next day, the complainant was contacted again by a female who instructed him to withdraw cash from his bank and place it in a cardboard box. Again, he was instructed that a courier would pick up the money and provide a passcode money the next day.
On Saturday, August 31, 2024, at approximately 5 p.m., a male suspect arrived on foot at the complainant’s residence on Kakiwa Place, provided the passcode, and took the box containing cash. The suspect is described as an Asian male, 18 to 20 years old, 5′0″, 100 to 120 lbs., slim build, blond hair, wearing a black shirt, black pants, and white shoes.
Kim also talked about a robbery case at the Ala Moana Shopping Center on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 7 p.m., when a male suspect entered the Prada Store, selected and concealed a belt, and then used force by pushing the assistant store manager in the course of fleeing. The unknown male suspect fled into the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot. He’s described as 5′5″ to 5′6″, 150 to 160 lbs., brown hair with a top knot, light brown complexion, wearing a sunglasses, black and white colored, pin-striped shirt, long, khaki pants, dirty, white shoes.
Kim also discussed HPD’s Animal CrimeStoppers program and how the public can report animal cruelty cases. On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at about 7:50 p.m., a white cat was found deceased in the Koko Head District Park. The cat had obvious signs of trauma, and had multiple pellets lodged in its head.
In addition to the CrimeStoppers reward, a private donor is willing to pay an additional $5,000 cash for information leading to an arrest.
Animal CrimeStoppers will have a booth at the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Petwalk this Saturday, October 26. For more information, visit https://hawaiianhumane.org/events/petwalk-2024.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.