Online Scams in Kona, USA
Fraudulent booking sites, phishing, fake reviews, and digital cons targeting travelers. Below are the online scams scams reported in Kona — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like New York, Tijuana, and Cozumel.
Last updated: April 9, 2026
2
Online Scams Scams
10
Total in Kona
How it works
Fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate Kona tour operators — manta ray dives, snorkel charters, whale watching, and sport fishing — have been flagged by the Better Business Bureau and Hawaii's Office of Consumer Protection. These sites take payment, send realistic confirmation emails, and then become unreachable when customers arrive in Kona. The cloned sites often rank in Google search results above the real operator due to paid placement or SEO manipulation, and are frequently built around popular Kona search terms.
How it works
Visitors to Kona are targeted via social media ads and email campaigns claiming they have won a free vacation package or resort stay on the Big Island. Recipients are directed to call a number or visit a website to claim their prize, then told they must pay "taxes," "resort fees," or "activation fees" of $100–500 to redeem — classic advance-fee fraud. The scams frequently impersonate real Kohala Coast resorts such as the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or Fairmont Orchid to appear credible.
See all scams in Kona
10 total warnings across all categories