Hawaiian Electric to customers: Don’t get scammed! During Utility Scam Awareness Week, consumers asked to be vigilant

Hawaiian Electric to customers: Don’t get scammed!
During Utility Scam Awareness Week, consumers asked to be vigilant
HONOLULU, Nov. 17, 2025 – It’s the busiest time of the year for scammers. They use phone
calls, emails, texts – every mode of communication – to target utility customers during the hustle
and bustle of the holidays.
During Utility Scam Awareness Week, Hawaiian Electric warns customers to be on alert for
scammers who “threaten” to shut off power immediately to homes and businesses if payment is
not made. Don’t be fooled.
Scammers are constantly updating their schemes, said Hawaiian Electric Security Manager
Jonathon Grems. “It’s critical for all customers to stay vigilant. Don’t let a scammer’s threat of
disconnection make you a victim,” Grems said. In a recent scam, the caller said he was from
Hawaiian Electric and told the customer she had been overcharged and that bank account info
was needed to issue a refund. The alert customer reported the scam.
Over the summer, scammers threatened at least 20 businesses with disconnection and then
sent QR codes to their targets to make payment. The calls came from the same three local
phone numbers and two eateries paid at least $2,000 cash to the scammer.
Woodwork Designs Hawaii in Kāneʻohe was among the 20 businesses that reported the scam
to Hawaiian Electric starting in mid-June. The caller said he was from “HECO” and that he had a
work order to disconnect service, said owner Kiaʻaina Wong. But Wong said his business
account was current and that he hadn’t received any disconnection notices.
“I told him, ‘I’m on automatic pay and I’m up to date. What you’re doing is wrong,’” Wong said.
The scammer eventually hung up. But Wong knows it can be easy to get caught off guard by
scammers and encouraged customers to step back and think about what they are being asked
before engaging and reacting. “Take the time to go and check your account,” Wong said.
Hawaiian Electric provides written notification if a customer account is in arrears. Disconnection
notices provide a minimum of five days for customers to make payment.
To file a fraud report, visit hawaiianelectric.com/reportfraud. To review acceptable payment
options, go to hawaiianelectric.com/paymentoptions.
Hawaiian Electric offers the following tips:
• If a caller says your account is delinquent and threatens to shut off service
immediately unless payment is made, it’s a scam. Don’t be fooled by the caller
ID, which can be manipulated to show a legitimate phone number.
• If someone from ‘Hawaiian Electric’ contacts you and demands immediate payment via
gift cards, money transfer, prepaid debit cards or by Bitcoin, it’s a scam. For available
payment methods, go to hawaiianelectric.com/paymentoptions.
• If the caller asks to meet you in person to pick up a payment, it’s a scam.
• If you receive an email urging you to click on an embedded link or attachment, or scan
a QR code, to pay a bill, think before you click. It’s likely a scam.
• If someone shows up at your home or place of business claiming to be from Hawaiian
Electric, ensure that person is wearing official attire with a logo, driving a properly
labeled vehicle and carrying company identification. When in doubt, call customer
service.
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