Maine Attorney General’s Office
If you think you are the victim of a scam or identity theft, call the Maine Attorney General’s Office at: 1-800-436-2131.
To learn more about how to avoid mail, internet, and telephone fraud, visit the website for the Maine Attorney General Consumer Law Guide by clicking here.
Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
If you want to check on a charity before you make a donation, call the Charitable Solicitations Program at 1-207-624-8525.
Maine Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
For more information on how to protect your money, check out the Downeaster Guide to Elder Financial Protection by clicking here.
Federal Trade Commission
If you want to report a scam or identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission website by clicking here, or call them at: 1-877-438-4338. The FTC has more information about certain types of scams. To learn more, click on any of the links below:
- Information on Telephone Scams
- Debt Relief and Credit Repair Scams
- Catch the Bandit in Your Mailbox
- Charitable Donation$: Give or Take
- Ditch the Pitch: Hanging Up on Telephone Hucksters
- Avoid Coronavirus Scams
FTC “Pass It On” to prevent Consumer Scams
The Federal Trade Commission has recently released a series of tools designed as conversation starters on common consumer scams such as:
- Identity Theft
- Imposter Scams
- Charity Fraud
- Health Care Scams
- "You've Won" Scams
- Home Repair Scams
- Robocall Scams
- Money Mule Scams
- Work-at-Home Scams
The Tools Can be found at: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0030-pass-it-on
Legal Services for Maine Elders
If you are a Maine resident who is 60 or older and you think you have been scammed, call the Legal Services for Maine Elders Helpline at: 1-800-750-5353 to talk to an attorney for free.
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau helps consumers find and recommend businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. Click here to check out what's been recommended in your area.
National Consumers League: Fraud.org
For more information about things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams, visit the website for the National Consumers League by clicking here.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released two new resources to help older adults protect their identity. Click here to download or order a copy of the CFPB's Identity Theft Protection Guide. If you would like an educational placemat on identity theft for meal sites, senior centers, and other places older adults gather for meals, click here.