Older people in Hawaii are losing large sums to scams, and caregivers are being urged to step in as the first line of defense.

• Scam victims in Hawaii lost close to $3 million over the past two years, according to Better Business Bureau tracking.
• People 55 and older account for most of that money — more than half the total losses.
• Fake investment offers and fake romance scams do the most damage, because they pull the biggest dollar amounts.
• Caregivers are advised to watch bills and bank statements for odd charges and to keep the conversation blame-free.
• Scams thrive when someone is isolated, and anyone hit once is likely to be targeted again.

Outlook: Reporting the theft to the bank right away offers the best chance of getting the money back, so speed matters more than anything else.