Hawaii Warns Businesses of Fraudulent State Emails

The Department of Accounting and General Services reports that scammers are impersonating state agencies to solicit funds.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a monolithic government building silhouette in deep red and cream, representing institutional warning against fraud. — Hawaii's Department of Accounting and General Services has warned local businesses to be vigilant against ongoing email fraud campaigns. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Hawaii state officials have issued an alert regarding fraudulent emails designed to mimic legitimate government communications. These scams target businesses by requesting sensitive information and payments.

Why it matters

These fraudulent messages exploit the trust businesses place in government entities to deceive vendors into providing deposits and proprietary data. The campaign specifically leverages the names and logos of various state departments to appear authentic.

State officials have identified fraudulent requests for a $400 deposit. The investigation currently involves the Department of Accounting and General Services, the State Procurement Office, and other state agencies.

The players

Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services

This state department provides central administrative and technical support to other government agencies.

State Procurement Office

This office oversees state purchasing and contracting activities and received reports from targeted vendors.

The details

The fraudulent emails direct recipients to complete documents that closely resemble official forms from the DAGS or the Hawaiʻi State Archives. Perpetrators are impersonating several entities, including the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Department of Budget and Finance.

October 21, 2026: State officials issued a public warning regarding fraudulent emails.

Legal Context

The warning marks a departure from standard security expectations in Hawaii state government procurement transparency protocols. It underscores the ongoing challenge of protecting administrative communication channels against sophisticated impersonation tactics.

Businesses should verify the legitimacy of any payment requests by contacting the agency directly using verified channels like the State Procurement Office at 808-586-0554. Avoid completing or returning any documents that request deposits until the sender has been authenticated.

The takeaway

Always scrutinize the sender address and visual details of any email requesting payment, even if it uses official state branding. Contacting the department via an established phone number is the safest way to verify the authenticity of a government request.