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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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E-mail scam poses as jury inquiry
Question: Can you warn your readers about a jury duty scam? I received an e-mail, in which the caller claims to be a jury coordinator and asks for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can cancel an arrest warrant. The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their Web sites.
Answer: So far, the scam does not appear to have reached Hawaii, said Cynthia Aranador, jury clerk for the U.S. District Court in Hawaii.
But this is a good opportunity to warn people again not to give any personal information over the phone to a stranger.
"We don't ask for any type of information over the phone," Aranador said. Because the office already has all the pertinent information it needs regarding potential jurors, there is no reason to be calling people for more information, she said.
See http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm for more information.
Auwe
To the man raising the U.S. and Hawaii state flags about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the fire station at North Nimitz Highway and Waiakamilo Road. He was wearing shorts, slippers and no shirt. This was unprofessional and unpatriotic. Many soldiers have died to defend this country and the U.S. flag is a symbol of their ultimate sacrifice. He should have shown proper respect by putting on his uniform and raising this flag with pride and respect. The U.S. flag also represents the firemen and police officers who died in the Twin Towers attack on 9/11. You're in the eye of the public and many would have been offended as I was. -- Jason
The person raising the flag should have been in uniform, said Capt. Terry Seelig, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.
An investigation was to be made into your complaint and "appropriate action" will be taken based on the results. Meanwhile, firefighters will be reminded to follow established department protocols for displaying the American and Hawaiian flags, he said.
Not all Honolulu fire stations have flagstaffs, but those that do, display both the U.S. and Hawaii flags daily, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., or between sunrise and sunset.
The raising and lowering of the flags is an assigned station duty, conducted by one or more members "in proper uniform," which consists of an HFD uniform shirt, pants and shoes, Seelig said.
An HFD uniform T-shirt can be substituted for a uniform shirt.
All firefighters are trained in flag etiquette and are expected to show proper respect when raising or lowering the flags, Seelig said.
He noted that many firefighters have had military service or have family members in the military.
They all "are aware of the sacrifices made so that we can have the privilege and the freedom to fly the flags," he said.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers