New Scam in Town......Scammers Use Fake E Mail to Lure Victims Into Giving Personal Information.

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Amy Herbert, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

The subject line says “Get Protected,” and the email talks about new features from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that can help taxpayers monitor their credit reports, and know about unauthorized use of their Social Security number. It even cites the IRS and the official-sounding “S.A.F.E Act 2015.” It sounds real, but it’s all made up.

It’s a phishing email to get you to click on a scammer’s link. If you do, a scammer can install malware — like viruses and spyware — on your computer. Or, the link might send you to a spoof site — a lookalike website set up by a scammer to trick you into entering your personal information.



Not sure if an email is really from the government? Here are a couple of clues. Did the email end up in your junk folder? Email providers use filters to help catch phishing scams and prevent spam from getting into your inbox. And when you hover your cursor over the link, is the web address really a trusted website? In this fake SSA email, when you hover over the URL you’re invited to click on, you see the link goes to an unrelated “.com” — instead of the Social Security Administration’s socialsecurity.gov or another “.gov” site.

If you get a questionable email, don’t click on any links, or open any attachments. Report it to the FTC by forwarding the email to spam@uce.gov — and to the real organization impersonated in the email. You also can report it to your email provider. Some email providers let you mark messages as phishing scams. Your report is most effective when you include the full email header, although most email programs hide this information. To find out the full header, type the name of your email service with “full email header” into your favorite search engine, and include this information in your report. When you’re done, delete the email.

If you’re unsure about an email that looks like it’s from the government, contact the agency directly. But find the contact info yourself.

Maine's Death Rate From Heroin and Fentanyl Continue to Climb in First Half of 2015.

From today's pages of Maine .gov

 

 

 

First half of 2015 shows pace of drug deaths has not slowed - Heroin, Fentanyl deaths continue to surge

08/20/2015 02:25 PM EDT

(AUGUSTA) A preliminary analysis of drug deaths in Maine occurring in the first half of 2015 has shown that deaths related to heroin and fentanyl continue to climb, while the overall number of drug overdose deaths is on track to be similar to 2014 - which was the worst year on record.

In the first half of 2015 the number of people who died from a drug overdose in Maine stands at 105. Of that figure, 37 deaths were primarily attributable to heroin and 26 primarily to fentanyl, according to an analysis of case files conducted for the Office of the Attorney General by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In all of 2014, 208 people died of overdoses, 57 primarily attributable to heroin and 43 primarily attributable to fentanyl.

"These numbers are terribly distressing," said Attorney General Janet T. Mills. "The first six months of 2015 show that this crisis continues unabated and we - everyone in the state of Maine - still have a great deal of work to do to get this under control. We need to address this crisis from all angles: education, prevention, treatment and interdiction."

Two caveats underscore these statistics: Based on experience in past years, the actual total for a year can vary about 15% up or down from twice the amount of the half-year mark. Also, most toxicology reports reveal that the decedent's blood contained numerous substances - cocaine, alcohol, fentanyl, heroin and other opioids or over-the-counter medications. One death can be caused by multiple substances.

"It cannot be stressed enough - You do not take heroin, it takes you," said Attorney General Mills.

If you or someone you know needs help getting treatment, dial: 211

HOW to Properly Display your American Flag.

HOW TO FLY YOUR AMERICAN FLAG
									Flag Display The American flag should always fly: Above other flags and should be the same size or larger than the other flags. On its own right. When flying with other country flags all flags should be the same size and fly at the same height. With its canton (star field) in the upper left corner when looking at it. If the flag is horizontal you will see one side of the flag, and if it's displayed vertical, you will see the other side.   How to properly fly your flag at half-staff.  When raising the flag to half-staff on a vertical pole, always raise it briskly to the top of the flagpole for a moment before lowering it. When taking it down for the night, raise it to the top of the flagpole again & lower it to the bottom. With a telescoping flag pole it is acceptable to put the USA flag on the second set of rings instead of the top set. In this case the top set would be left empty.  When the United States flag is flown at half-staff, State & other flags should be removed or flown at half-staff too.  More about half-staff Only the President and state Governors can decide when and how long the flag should be flown at half-staff on federal or state buildings. These are guidelines published in US Flag Code. Thirty days after the death of a president or former president Ten days after the death of a vice president, the chief of justice or a retired chief of justice or the speaker of the house of representatives. Until the burial of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of a military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory, or possession. On the day of and the day after the death of a member of Congress. On Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor all the people who have died while serving the United States & originally called Decoration Day, the flag is flown at half-Staff until noon, then raised to full staff until sundown. What if you can't lower your flag? For flags that can't be lowered, such as those on many homes, the American Legion says that attaching a black ribbon or streamer to the top of the flag is an acceptable alternative. The ribbon should be the same width as a stripe on the flag and the same length as the flag.