HONOLULU, HI – State agencies are warning Hawai’i residents to be wary of door-to-door salespeople falsely claiming to represent the Hawai’i Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA) and its Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) Program. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Office of Consumer Protection, in partnership with the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) HGIA, issued the warning today following multiple reports of deceptive sales tactics.
According to HGIA, they have received reports of individuals going door-to-door, aggressively pitching solar systems and claiming to be affiliated with HGIA and the GEM$ program. HGIA clarified that its employees do not engage in cold-calling, door-to-door sales, or any similar practices to promote its financing programs or sell solar systems.
“HGIA employees do not sell solar systems, nor do they educate the public about its financing programs through cold-calling, door-to-door sales, door-knocking, or similar practices,” the agency stated in a press release.
The Office of Consumer Protection is urging residents to be cautious and report any suspicious activity. They also warned that salespeople who mislead consumers by falsely claiming affiliation with HGIA or GEM$ are in violation of consumer protection laws and could face significant damages and penalties in court.
“Misleading consumers by stating or implying an affiliation with HGIA or GEM$ violates consumer protection laws,” the Office of Consumer Protection stated.
What to Do If You Encounter Suspicious Salespeople:
- Report it: File a complaint with the Office of Consumer Protection at consumercomplaint.hawaii.gov or by calling 808-587-4272.
- Gather Information: Provide any available information, including the salesperson’s name, company, and any audio or video recordings of interactions.
- Request Identification: State of Hawai’i employees should always be able to present official photo ID cards upon request.
- Contact HGIA Directly: If you encounter a salesperson claiming to work for HGIA or the GEM$ program, or experience aggressive sales tactics regarding HGIA’s programs, contact HGIA at 808-587-3868 or dbedt.greenbank@hawaii.gov.
Residents are reminded that door-to-door sales are regulated by state and federal consumer protection laws. Information regarding these regulations can be found here.
The state agencies hope that by raising awareness, they can protect residents from falling victim to these deceptive practices and ensure that legitimate programs are not tarnished by the actions of imposters.