Last November you received a warning from Maine Attorney General William Schneider about automated phone calls from companies claiming to want to help you lower credit card interest rates, and ask for your credit and debit card numbers, then use that personal information to hack into and clean out your accounts. The A.G. is advising Mainers who get these robo-calls to hang up and contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (207) 626-8849. AARP reports that in the over 50’s population, only 20% use cellphones as their primary calling devices, making the home telephone a prime target for robo-calling. Caller ID can help screen your calls before answering.
Maine’s Office of Securities has also encouraged seniors and caregivers to report possible financial or investment exploitation of elders in Maine. Financial scams victimize 1 out of every 5 people over the age of 65. Don’t let it happen to you. In Maine, call toll free 1-877-624-8551 or click on the link for more information. With W-2 forms and other tax documents containing personal information and Social Security numbers being mailed out during January each year, Identity Thieves are active so we all need to be vigilant.
Maine Fraud Protection Alliance DASH Program in Southern Maine was established to warn and protect consumers from various financial fraud tactics employed. The alliance suggests the use of the acronym DASH to help protect consumers from fraud attempts: D – delete unsolicited emails, A – ask to see permits from door-to-door sales people, S – shred junk mail and H – hang up on unsolicited phone calls. Click on the link for more details.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection is still the best way to fight breast cancer. The