Maine Attorney General Janet Mills recently joined us, along with Rep. Karen Kusiak, D-Fairfield, and Sen. Colleen Lachowicz, D-Waterville, at the Fairfield Community Center to provide our neighbors with important information about consumer protection.

We would like to thank Mills for sharing how we can protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community from scams and fraud.

Each year, scam artists use clever tricks to victimize millions of people. These criminals use phone calls, emails, letters and other methods to target aging Mainers, stealing personal information and hard-earned savings.

While their tactics are always changing, these scams have some common elements. Many will ask us to wire money to unknown people. Wiring money is like using cash, and these funds cannot be traced or recovered.

Remembering a few general rules can help us protect ourselves and our financial security.

• Never give personal information out over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless we have done business with the organization before and were satisfied with the transaction. Sadly, it is not safe to assume that an unfamiliar organization is legitimate.

• In matters of personal information and finances, it is a good idea to ask questions, take our time when making financial decisions and consult with someone we trust.

It is important to know how these criminal schemes work so we can protect ourselves from them. For more information about consumer protection and a list of recently reported scams, visit the Maine Attorney General’s website at www.maine.gov/ag/consumer.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call or email, should report it to the attorney general’s office right away. Email [email protected] or call 1-800-436-2131. Doing so can help keep scammers from taking advantage of honest Mainers.

Rep. Catherine Nadeau, D-Winslow Rep. Stanley Short Jr., D-Pittsfield