DEAR SUN SPOTS: I read Sun Spots every day. You help a lot of people; maybe you can help me. This letter looks like a scam to me. Could you check it out?

If it is a scam, other people should know about it. Thank you. — Robert Collette, Roxbury

ANSWER: Robert sent Sun Spots a very official-looking form that says at the top “Shipment Status Advisory: Urgent Notice.” It goes on to tell him that “the sum of $2 million would be paid to you contingent upon if your ANC Control No. being officially established as a match for the winning number.”

ANC stands for Award Notification Commission, which the Better Business Bureau has listed as a scam organization.

The letter then goes on to say that his chance to win is on hold because his payment has not been received and advises him to immediately send $12.99.

Sun Spots is sure that plenty of people send in that relatively small fee, figuring that it can’t hurt. But it can. Not only is it waste of $12.99, but if you write a check or give them your credit card, they then have your account number information.

Typical of most scams, note the wording in the first paragraph “would be paid to you.” That means that even if there was a prize (which there is not), sending in the fee only gives you a minuscule chance of winning. The most likely prize you would win is identify theft or extra charges on your credit card. 

 The BBB notes that you cannot be asked to pay for a prize. Only the Internal Revenue Service will collect if you win.

Robert was smart not to fall for it, and Sun Spots thanks him for mailing it to her so she can share it with other readers.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I hope Sun Spots can help, as I’ve come up empty in my own research. Does Central Maine Medical Center have either a patient advocate or ombudsman, and if so, what is the office’s contact information?

I have had multiple recurring problems with a particular practice in the CMHC Family in spite of promises by the medical director that these issues will be addressed.

I have searched the CMMC/CMHC websites high and low for such an office, but none is to be found, nor is there any contact information for the various department heads.

Perhaps Sun Spots can help, or perhaps a reader has been down the same road before and has the contact info. Thank you very much. — Andrew via email

ANSWER: It took Sun Spots weeks to get this information from Central Maine Medical Center, but she is pleased to report that she has finally succeeded.

Rhonda Tilley, the administrative assistant for risk management, is the person who handles patient grievances. She does the intake, review concerns and gets the appropriate staff involved to come to a resolution and reach out to the patient.

You can find her at Central Maine Healthcare Corp., 300 Main St., Lewiston, ME 04240, 207-795-8132, Fax 207-344-0359, tilleyrh@cmhcorg.

As for the website, Rhonda said they are currently looking into getting this changed so it will be easier for patients or managers of the departments to find her.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: My hobbies are quilting and putting puzzles together. I would appreciate getting any old puzzles or pieces of cloth that you are going to discard. I will pick up in the Mechanic Falls area. Thank you. — Betty Thurlow, 345-9196

ANSWER: This is a great time of year to pick up jigsaw puzzles very inexpensively at yard sales.

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 sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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