Scammers are posing as Honolulu police and demanding money for a fake ankle monitoring program, a costly trap for families with a relative in jail.

• Callers claim to be with the Honolulu Police Department and say cash is needed to release someone from jail.
• The money is requested through third-party payment apps, which makes it nearly impossible to get back.
• Real officers never ask for payments through those apps or over the phone.
• The scam preys on people in a panic about a loved one behind bars, when they are least likely to stop and check.

Outlook: Expect more of these calls in Hawaii, and treat any police demand for app payments as fake.