Secret Service agent to speak at Waimea Community Town Hall about protecting against cyber fraud

The Waimea Community Association’s upcoming town meeting will focus on protecting against cyber fraud.

Scheduled for Sept. 3, Cherise Richards of the United States Secret Service Honolulu Field Office, who is part of the Hawaii-Pacific Cyber Fraud Task Force and Digital Evidence Forensic Lab, will come to speak to the community about the growing threat of AI-powered scams and how rapidly advancing technology is changing the way fraudsters target Hawaiʻi residents.

The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the W. M. Keck Observatory Headquarters’ Jerry Nelson Conference Room.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly sophisticated, scammers are using tools such as voice-cloning technology to convincingly mimic the voices of loved ones and create highly believable emergencies, according to a news release from the Waimea Community Association. Richards will demonstrate real-world examples of AI voice-altering technology and explain the psychological tactics scammers use to create fear, urgency and pressure that can lead victims to make quick decisions.

“The presentation will focus on practical tools residents can use to recognize and respond to these increasingly sophisticated schemes, including steps for reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement,” said Waimea Community Association President Nancy Carr Smith.

Smith said the information is valuable for anyone looking to protect themselves and their families, including kūpuna, from emerging forms of financial fraud, “particularly at a time when scammers may attempt to exploit heightened uncertainty and vulnerability following a disaster or emergency.”

The meeting will not be live-streamed or recorded for public posting, so in-person attendance is encouraged.

Hans L’Orange, Senior Warden at St. James, will also provide a brief update on changes taking place at the St. James’ campus as well as plans for the newly acquired adjoining Chock property, as part of a new segment for WCA town meetings called “Waimea, In the Know.”

Waimea Police will give a community update on public safety and other issues affecting the community, especially after the recent storms.

The meeting will also feature an update from AES Hawaiʻi on the Keāmuku Solar + Storage Project to be located at the top of Waikoloa Road. Carrice Gardner, Senior Stakeholder Relations Manager, and Malia Torres, Stakeholder Relations Analyst, will provide an overview of the project’s current status and next steps.

The AES Hawaiʻi team will be available following the presentation to answer questions and hear feedback from community members.

For more information, contact WCA President Nancy Carr Smith at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.