PORTLAND —  To coincide with common scams that surface during tax season, the AARP Fraud Watch Network has launched an educational effort to help people protect themselves from tax scams, releasing a 60-second new video, a tip sheet and encouraging people to take advantage of AARP’s free tax preparation services.

Many taxpayers are putting themselves at greater risk of tax identity theft. Scammers will electronically file a tax return under someone else’s name to collect their tax refund. All they need is a birth date and Social Security number, and many taxpayers make their personal information easy pickings by failing to destroy personal information, leaving valuables unattended or failing to mail sensitive information safely.

Long-term, one of the most effective ways consumers can protect themselves from identity theft is through a security freeze which safeguards a person’s credit report. Without access to this sensitive information, an identity thief will be unable to obtain credit in that person’s name, thereby greatly minimizing the potential damage from the theft. Once the freeze is in place, the consumer has control over who can receive their credit report.

AARP Maine will testify on March 3 in support of LD 382, sponsored by Senator Rodney Whittemore, that would amend Maine’s security freeze law. Currently, only consumers who have been the victim of identity theft can turn on the security freeze for free. For all other consumers there is an initial cost of $10 for each of the three credit bureaus and subsequent fees of $10 or $12 to turn the freeze on and off. The bill calls for a reduction of $4 per fee in all cases.

AARP is also encouraging Mainers to visit aarp.org/taxaide (1-888-227-7669) for information about AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation program. Each tax season, Tax-Aide helps millions of low- to moderate-income taxpayers — especially those 60 and older — get the credits and deductions they deserve. In Maine, the program annually processes more than 20,000 tax returns at no cost.

For these and other fraud prevention tips, visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork. For additional help, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 and visit irs.gov/identitytheft.