Scammers posing as the “Maine IRS” are targeting Maine residents, claiming they need confidential information in order to process $850 economic relief checks promised last month by Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Legislature.

The Attorney General’s Office and Maine Revenue Services — Maine’s tax collecting agency — were alerted that scammers have been calling Mainers and telling them they need Social Security numbers, maiden names and other sensitive information in order to process the relief checks.

“Maine Revenue Services already has all the information it needs to issue these relief checks, so no one needs to share any information to collect this check,” Attorney General Aaron Frey said in a media statement Friday.

“As always, do not share any identifying information with anyone demanding such information over the phone without independently confirming their identity,” he said.

Eligibility for the $850 checks is based on the 2021 Maine individual income tax return, according to Frey’s statement. The relief checks will be mailed out by U.S. Postal Service to the address provided on the recipient’s 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 is scheduled to be mailed in June 2022 and will be delivered on a rolling basis through the end of the year as returns are received, according to the statement.

Anyone whose identity has been stolen or who is seeking more information about preventing identity theft is urged to 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.

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