AUGUSTA – Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe warned senior citizens Friday about scams that take advantage of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

Some Mainers have received calls about fraudulent discount prescription drug programs, Rowe said. One southern Maine senior was recently tricked into giving her checking account number over the phone, and almost immediately had $299 taken from her bank account.

“The rule to always follow is, if the caller asks for your checking account number, your Social Security number or your credit card number, hang up,” Rowe said in a prepared statement.

He also advised consumers to never give any personal information over the phone, to demand written materials from callers, to never pay to apply for a plan (no Medicare plan has an application fee), and to remember that enrollment for the Medicare Part D plan doesn’t begin until Nov. 15.

Beginning today, approved Medicare Part D companies can begin telemarketing. However, no company can enroll seniors over the phone. Anyone trying to sign up a senior over the phone is a scam artist, Rowe said.

Anyone who suspects they are a fraud victim are urged to call the attorney general’s consumer protection hot line at 1-800-436-2131 or send e-mail to [email protected].

For more information about the Medicare plan, people may call 1-800-Medicare or go to www.medicare.gov.

– Bonnie Washuk