Phone scam using caller ID spoofing identified in Kennebec Valley

AUGUSTA — The Kennebec Valley area has become the target of a phone scam involving automated and non-automated phone calls appearing to come from local phone numbers. These calls are offering to help with debt reduction or to pay hospital bills, asking for the person’s credit card information over the phone.

This is a case of Caller ID “Spoofing,” a manipulation of the Caller ID feature allowing the scammers to disguise their true identity; they are disguising themselves as MaineGeneral Health. A similar phone scam targeted the Skowhegan area last month.
MaineGeneral does not make automated phone calls regarding patient billing. However, MaineGeneral Financial Services does make outbound calls seeking payment on past-due bills.

Anyone receiving a call regarding a bill at MaineGeneral concerned it may be a phone scam, please end the call and then call MaineGeneral’s switchboard at 207-626-1000 or 207-872-1000 and ask that your call be transferred to the billing office. You also can look at your billing statement and call the phone number on the bill.

MaineGeneral has reported this phone scam to the authorities.