Hawaii Officials Caution Vendors About Fake Emails Requesting Payments and Private Data

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – State officials are alerting vendors and businesses about fraudulent emails that are masquerading as communications from government agencies. The Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), through its Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS), has indicated that these impersonators are soliciting payments and sensitive information.

Keith Regan, the Acting Lieutenant Governor and DAGS Director, noted that the State Procurement Office (SPO) has received numerous reports from vendors who were contacted by individuals falsely claiming to represent state entities. Instances include requests for a deposit of $400 and directions to fill out a DAGS/Hawaiʻi State Archives form that closely resembles an authentic state document. Vince Hoang, the state chief information security officer, warned that these scams aim to exploit the trust placed in government organizations. Officials encourage vigilance and propose verifying payment requests with the agency directly, scrutinizing email addresses for authenticity, avoiding unusual links or attachments, and reporting any suspicious messages to the respective agency.