Recent Scams That Mainers Should Be on the Lookout for

Scams have been around forever, but they’ve exploded in recent years, and scammers are getting savvier with new ways to target people.

Maine.gov has actually compiled a list of the scams that have hit Maine recently, and these are some of the major ones to watch out for.

These scammers are telling victims that they missed a federal grand jury summons and must pay a fine. They instruct the targets to load money onto a gift card and then share the gift card details over the phone.

We would like to think that the ol' gift card scam has run its course but it's important to know that it's still working, especially with a certain age group...

One of the biggest targets? Senior citizens. Scammers often focus on them, whether it’s through phone calls, texts, or sketchy links online. In particular, there's the “grandparent scam”, where scammers call seniors pretending to be a grandchild in jail, desperately asking for bail money. It’s sneaky and it's unfortunately proven to be effective.

Another one to watch for is the classic dating scam. This involves fake online relationships where, after enough chatting to build trust, scammers ask for money.

Pro tip: never send cash to someone you’ve only met online.

And don’t forget about caller ID spoofing, where scammers can make it look like they’re calling from a legit number—even though they’re not. And if it says "scam likely" or "unknown," then be extra cautious.

For a full rundown, check out the scam list on Maine.gov. Scrolling through might save you from getting scammed.

Bottom line: never hand out personal info or send money to strangers, and think twice before clicking on random links. It’s also a good idea to give the seniors in your life a heads-up about these scams—they’re often prime targets.