DEAR SUN SPOTS: In your Jan. 22 column about telephone scams and telemarketers, you wrote: “If you can’t bring yourself to be as rude as Sun Spots, the next best option is to refuse to do ANY business over the phone. Instead, ask that material be mailed to you.”

This advice needs an accompanying caution.

My mother (age 91) has had a habit of saying to unsolicited callers, “Put it in the mail.” She uses this when she can’t hear well enough to make out what they’re saying.

I’ve told her several times that this is dangerous. If she can’t hear what they’re saying, she doesn’t know what “put it in the mail” will mean. “It” could be anything — a product they’re selling, a bill, a pledge confirmation, a stack of fund appeal letters to mail out over one’s own signature. One can hardly think of all the possibilities.

I’ve told her that instead of “put it in the mail” she should say, “Tell me about it by mail.” Then the most they’re authorized to send is information. — Larry Kuenning, [email protected]

ANSWER: That is excellent advice, and something Sun Spots should have thought of herself.

She should also have reminded readers not to believe everything they receive in the mail either. Before you send money for anything you are not absolutely sure about, get a second opinion.

Also, right after she wrote that column, Sun Spots came across a bulletin about a fraud kit from AARP.

As part of the Maine Fraud Prevention Alliance. AARP Maine is encouraging members to use its DASH fraud prevention kit. The kit includes tips on how to handle unsolicited phone calls, junk mail and texts, and door-to-door sales to guard against scams.

Visit dashfraud.com or call 866-554-5380 for more information.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We read your recent message about medical alert scams with great interest, as we too have received calls at home like the one that was described. What made that call more irksome is that as managers of St. Mary’s Personal Emergency Response service, we know the care and dedication our team takes in responding to our subscriber’s concerns.

We never make solicitation calls. When we call our subscribers, we identify ourselves as employees of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. We always make arrangements with our subscribers when we need to visit or undertake a service call. We never show up unannounced. Our subscribers know they can call us if they have questions or concerns.

Also, we’d like to let your readers — and our subscribers — know that we are in the midst of replacing all our equipment and installing new, more effective devices in our subscriber’s homes. Our installers are well-trained, and will call first to set up an appointment.

If someone just “shows up,” without having contacted you first, don’t let them in, and call us at 777-8827. Always ask for identification before you let someone in. Our installers carry either St. Mary’s or New England Emergency Response Services identification. If they don’t have this identification, don’t let them in.

We are proud of the service we provide our fellow community members, and appreciate Sun Spots for helping draw attention to what is right — and wrong — in our region. — Caroline Parent, Bonnie Grant and Russ Donahue of St. Mary’s Emergency Response Service

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have read numerous times how people have returned personal items they have found. Well, I was not that lucky. Instead someone stole my purse while I was at a funeral home saying goodbye to a dear friend.

The thief was obviously not taught morals about respecting other people’s property, but he or she could at least have sent back the pictures of my family and the cellphone with pictures of a family pet we had lost a few weeks before.

I am sure people that stoop as low as stealing at a funeral parlor may not read this, but if readers have heard of this type of activity, please say something. Unless someone has had their purse or wallet stolen, they may not understand how disruptive this ordeal is. Please restore my faith in today’s society. — Claudia Mercier, [email protected]

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected].