BUSINESS BRIEFS
Bank of Hawaii warns of e-mail scam
Advertiser Staff
Bank of Hawaii is warning of a "phishing" scam bearing Bank of Hawaii's name, and is reminding people who receive the fraudulent e-mail that they should not respond.
The e-mail asks individuals to fill out an online survey to receive an $80 reward credited to their account.
Phishing is a federal crime where the perpetrators may send out thousands of fake, but authentic-looking, e-mails in an attempt to trick unsuspecting recipients into revealing their account numbers, passwords and Social Security numbers.
Bank of Hawaii said it does not send e-mail to its customers to ask them to submit personal information. Any such request should be viewed as highly suspicious and recipients should not respond or click on any of the links that appear in the e-mail, a spokesman said.
The bank is working with Internet security experts to shut down the fraudulent Web site and stop the scam e-mails. Recipients of a suspected fraudulent e-mail can forward it to emailfraud@boh.com.
CONVENTION MAY GENERATE $4.7M
The World Environmental & Water Resources 2008 Congress meeting this week at the Hawai'i Convention Center is expected to generate more than $4.7 million in visitor spending.
Sponsors say the meeting brings together "the best minds at work in water and environmental fields" and is expected to draw about 1,000 participants from all over the world.
In addition to the visitor spending, the conference is expected to generate more than $458,000 in statewide tax revenue and more than 8,000 rooms booked.
The Environmental & Water Resources Institute is a specialty organization of 22,000 members within the American Society of Civil Engineers.
TARO OUTPUT RISES FROM THIRD QUARTER
Hawai'i taro production for poi totaled 1.1 million pounds in the fourth quarter of 2007, up 15 percent from the third quarter but down 5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2006, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Taro production in 2007 totaled 3.9 million pounds, down from 4.4 million pounds in 2006 and below the five-year average of 4.8 million pounds per year, the NASS said.
EGG PRODUCTION FALLS 6 PERCENT
Hawai'i egg production fell to 6.5 million eggs in March, a 6 percent drop from the same month a year earlier, according to the Hawai'i office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The average number of laying hens in March was estimated at 352,000, down 9 percent from the same month a year earlier.
The average lay rate was 1,847 per 100 hens, up 4 percent from March 2007.
SALES EXECS TO HOST AWARDS LUNCHEON
The local chapter of the Sales and Marketing Executives International will host the 48th Annual Distinguished Sales & Marketing Awards Luncheon to honor outstanding local business professionals, May 21 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.
The 21 award winners represent nine participating Hawai'i companies: AIG Hawaii, Cardinal Services Ltd., First Hawaiian Bank, Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, Honolulu Publishing Co. Ltd., Oceanic Time Warner Cable Business Class, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts-Waikiki, The Honolulu Advertiser and This Week Magazines.
The event is set for noon in the hotel's Mauna Kea Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased at www.smehonolulu.com, or by calling 942-7000. Deadline for reservations is Friday.
