Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

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Read More Ponzi Schemes In the basic ponzi scheme a promoter promises to pay investors huge interest profits on their investments in a short period of time. The promoter can do this in the early stages of the scam by using the money from new investors to pay off profits promised to earlier investors. As the scam grows ...
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Read More Telemarketing Fraud While most telephone solicitations are legitimate, some fraudulent businesses will use the telephone to peddle worthless products and services. The following are sales practices which are commonly used in telemarketing frauds. Be alert to them: high pressure sales tactics; refusing to take “no” for an answer; insisting on immediate decisions; making offers that sound ...
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Read More Investment Fraud You should consider the following factors when looking into investments. Always check to see if the investment you want to purchase is registered and if the company or salesperson selling it are licensed. You can call the Securities Compliance Branch of the Business Registration Division at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to ...
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6/18/12 ...
Read More Contest Cons Many people feel that there’s nothing to lose and maybe lots to gain by entering contests offered by mail or phone. Some contests may look attractive because of their promise of big prizes. But, there’s a risk that you might become the victim of a contest con. While there are many legitimate contests, ...
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Read More Infomercials Well, you’ve seen them on TV, those get-rich-quick schemes on how to make millions in real estate or the revolutionary bee pollen that will make you look years younger, they’re a new wrinkle on TV advertising today. It’s the TV shopping service where viewers can watch merchandise being offered for sale on TV and ...
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Read More 1-900 Phone Numbers Many organizations and businesses use 1-900 phone numbers for legitimate and useful services, but just about anyone can lease a national 900 phone line from a telephone company. And, so we find 1-900 phone numbers offering services from weather reports and wake-up calls to dial-a-joke and dial-a-porn to outright consumer scams. A charge goes ...
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Read More About the Insurance Division The Insurance Division is responsible for overseeing the insurance industry in the State of Hawaii, which includes insurance companies, insurance agents, self-insurers and captives. The division ensures that consumers are provided with insurance services meeting acceptable standards of quality, equity and dependability at fair rates by establishing and enforcing appropriate service standards. Administration of ...
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Read More Filing a Complaint with the Insurance Division When a complaint is filed with the Insurance Division, the Compliance and Enforcement Branch conducts an investigation to assure compliance with the applicable statutes and rules. Appropriate disciplinary actions are taken by the Compliance and Enforcement Branch when necessary. If it is determined that a case warrants prosecution, it is referred to the Office ...
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Read More Filing a Complaint Against a Health Insurer or Health Plan To file a complaint against a health insurer or health plan, please follow these steps: Step One: You may either: Call our office at (808) 586-2804 and request a complaint form be mailed to you; Or you may write a letter including the following information: Your name Your address Your phone numbers Your e-mail ...
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Read More Consumer Alert We have received inquiries about plans that look and sound like insurance, but are NOT insurance. Information about these plans is being obtained through unsolicited faxes, ads in newspapers, flyers, and farmers markets. Many of these plans use language that make them sound like insurance, but the product being sold is NOT insurance. Many ...
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