Attorney General Warns Mainers About $850 Relief Check Identity Theft Scam
The Attorney General’s Office and Maine Revenue Services have been alerted that scammers claiming to be the “Maine IRS” have been targeting residents and requesting social security numbers, maiden names, and other sensitive information, stating it was needed to process $850 relief checks authorized by the Governor and the legislature last month.
“Maine Revenue Services already has all the information it needs to issue these relief checks, so no one should need to share any information to collect this check,” said Maine Attorney General. “As always, do not share any identifying information with anyone demanding such information over the phone without independently confirming their identity.”
Eligibility for the $850 relief checks is based upon the 2021 Maine individual income tax return. Relief checks will be mailed via U.S. Postal Service to the address provided on your 2021 Maine individual income tax return and will be redirected to any forwarding addresses filed with the U.S. Postal Service. The first round of relief checks will be mailed in June 2022 – and will be delivered on a rolling basis through the end of the year as returns are received.
If you need to report an identity theft, or for more information about preventing identity theft, please visit: https://www.maine.gov/ag/privacy/identity_theft.shtml
For assistance identifying free tax help, low- and middle-income Maine taxpayers may visit www.cashmaine.org, call 2-1-1, or visit 211maine.org.
Free dental care for veterans on June 11, 2022 (appointments required)
The Aspen Dental Day of Service will take place this year on June 11, 2022. For the past eight years, Aspen Dental offices across the country have opened their doors on the annual Day of Service, to provide FREE dental care to veterans and their families. Aspen Dental created the Healthy Mouth Movement to help ensure our veterans get the care they need. Since 2014, the Healthy Mouth Movement has provided over $23 million in donated dentistry to more than 30,000 patients in need.
Appointments are still available!
Participating Locations in Maine
- Auburn
- South Portland
- Waterville
- Biddeford
- Thomaston
- Bangor
Interested veterans need an appointment to receive care and should call 1-844-AspenHMM (1-844-277-3646) to find a participating practice in their community and schedule an appointment in advance – space is limited!
Maine CDC Marks Lyme Disease Awareness Month
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) urges Maine residents and visitors to be "Tick Wise" during Lyme Disease Awareness Month (PDF) this May.
Preventing tick bites is the best way to avoid a tickborne disease. Deer ticks in Maine can carry germs that cause diseases in people and animals, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi disease, and Powassan virus disease. These ticks are often found in wooded, leafy, and shrubby areas, meaning most Mainers are at risk every day. Anyone spending time outdoors should take steps to limit their exposure to ticks.
Ticks are already active in Maine this season, which begins in early spring and lasts through late fall. Follow these strategies after every outdoor activity to become Tick Wise and prevent tickborne diseases:
- Know tick habitat and use caution in areas where ticks may live.
- Use an EPA-approved repellent like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Wear light-colored clothing that covers the arms and legs and tuck pants into socks.
- Perform tick checks daily and after any outdoor activity.
Health care providers reported more than 1,500 confirmed and probable Lyme disease cases to Maine CDC in 2021,as of March 25, 2022.The most common symptom of Lyme disease is a bulls-eye rash anywhere on the body. Other common symptoms include joint and muscle pain, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. Some of these symptoms resemble COVID-19 symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to a health care provider. Make sure to mention a recent tick bite or time spent in tick habitat.
Maine CDC provides many resources to help Mainers be Tick Wise, including:
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab offers tick identification and testing to Maine residents. Tick testing is available for $15 with a three-day turnaround time. This is for surveillance purposes only. Contact a health care provider for concerns about tickborne illnesses. Find more information at ticks.umaine.edu.
Maine Warden Service reminds public that water is still dangerously cold
The Maine Warden Service wants to remind the public that even though air temperatures are in the 70s and even 80s this week, the water temperature is still very cold.
Game wardens say in water below 50 degrees, you can start to lose the ability to use your legs, arms and hands in just five minutes.
In 30 to 60 minutes, you become incapacitated and lose consciousness.
Even wearing a life jacket, your expected survival time is just one to three hours.
"You know, when hypothermia sets in, you don't have a lot of time at that point," Maine Warden Service Sgt. Tom McKenney said. "Our staff wear their life jackets. You can't really always see bad things that are going to happen. So if you wear it, that's one preventative measure that you can take."
Take Precautions Against Browntail Moth Hairs When Outside
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), Maine Forest Service (MFS), and 211 Maine remind Maine residents and visitors to watch out for browntail moth caterpillars and to take steps to limit potential health risks caused by the caterpillars. These caterpillars shed tiny hairs that can cause a skin reaction similar to poison ivy. When the hairs become airborne, they may be inhaled and cause trouble breathing.
As people head outside for recreation and yard maintenance, they face increased risk of contact with the toxic hairs. During the past two years, Maine Forest Service has seen evidence of browntail moth infestations in all Maine counties. The greatest risk for exposure to the toxic hairs is between April and July when the larger caterpillars are active. The hairs can land anywhere, including on trees, gardens, lawns, outdoor furniture, and decks. They also float in the air. The hairs remain toxic in the environment for up to three years. Activities such as mowing, raking, and sweeping can stir up the hairs.
Most individuals affected by the hairs develop a rash that lasts for a few hours up to several days. In more sensitive individuals, the rash can be severe and last for weeks. Inhaling the hairs may cause respiratory distress in some people. The rash and difficulty breathing result from both the toxin in the hairs and barbs on the hairs that cause them to become embedded in the skin and airways.
Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and eliminating ongoing exposure. There is no specific treatment for the rash or breathing problems caused by exposure to browntail moth hairs.
Browntail moth caterpillars are easy to identify. They are dark brown with white stripes along the sides and two red-orange dots on the back. Younger caterpillars lack these white stripes.
Steps Mainers can take to protect themselves from browntail moth hairs:
- Avoid places infested by caterpillars. Visit the Interactive Browntail Moth Dashboardto see activity in your area.
- When performing activities outdoors that may stir up caterpillar hairs:
- Aim for damp days or spray vegetation down with a hose. The moisture helps keep the hairs from becoming airborne while you are working.
- Cover face with respirator and goggles.
- Tightly secure clothing around the neck, wrists, and ankles.
- Take cool showers and change clothes after outdoor activities in infested areas.
- Dry laundry inside to avoid hairs embedding into clothing.
For more information:
- Contact 211 Maine for answers to frequently asked questions on browntail moths:
- Dial 211 (or 207-874-2211)
- Text your ZIP code to 898-211
- Maine CDC Browntail Moth Webpage: maine.gov/dhhs/browntailmoth
- Maine Forest Service Browntail Moth Webpage: maine.gov/dacf/knockoutbtm
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