Online scam offers rentals in classifieds

Hawaii island police officials are warning the public about an rental scam in online classified advertisements.

An unidentified person posted an advertisement online offering a house for rent on Haili Street in Hilo for $1,000 and allowing the renter to have cats and dogs.

The person claimed to be out of the country for several years and looking for a responsible renter to take care of the house, police said.

But the Hilo house did not belong to the person and was in escrow and not for rent, police said.

Police Lt. Gregory Esteban said this type of scam has cheated prospective renters out of rent money and security deposits in other jurisdictions.

"We are aware of similar scams like this on the mainland, where criminals prey on individuals looking for a reasonably priced house," Esteban said. "We don’t want our residents to fall victim to this kind of scam."

Screening area at Pier 1 in Hilo to be moved

The state Department of Transportation will be relocating the Hilo Harbor security screening area for cruise ship passengers from inside the Pier 1 shed to the outside walkway of the pier.

Tents and utilities will be installed, creating a weather-protected area outside the boarding area for the passengers and security staff. Work on the $53,482 project is scheduled to be completed by March 13.

The relocation will allow the DOT to proceed with a reroofing project on the Pier 1 shed that includes utilities upgrades and other improvements. Work is expected to begin later this year and last about six months.

The Pier 1 shed was originally built in 1927.