EDITOR’S NOTE: Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD, a consortium of local elder service, health care, community and law enforcement agencies, will offer periodic “Catch Your Eye” columns in this space. The columns aim to educate readers about TRIAD initiatives and services.

Have you recently received an email from a “friend” who claims he or she has been robbed while traveling abroad and needs funds to return home — asking that you wire money to a foreign address?

If you have, you’re not alone. Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD reports that this is but one of a variety of scams circulating in our community. In an effort to keep the public informed and prevent people from becoming victims of such scams, TRIAD and People Plus recently held a “ Protect Yourself from Frauds and Scams” program.

During the presentation, Brunswick Police Detective William Moir described some of the fraudulent activity occurring in the area, especially those that often target our older population. He emphasized the need to be savvy about not giving your money or any personal information to anyone you don’t know.

Just one example of an Internet scam that has crossed Detective Moir’s desk is the “secret shopper” scam that offers a bonus of $500 to evaluate Western Union. The “shopper” receives a check for $3,000 and is instructed to wire $2,500 of the money to the company and keep $500.

The unsuspecting victim learned that the $3,000 check bounced after wiring back the $2,500, leaving the victim responsible for the $3,000 bounced check.

Detective Moir cited several reallife cases of fraud that could have been prevented had the victim contacted his or her local law enforcement agency before responding to offers that sound “too good to be true.”

In fact, they are — just like the ongoing “You’ve won the lottery” scam but need to send money for fees before receiving your winnings.

Both Detective Moir and Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD emphasizes the importance of checking out any such offers or unsolicited requests for money or information from anyone you don’t know.

Law enforcement would rather be “bothered” by your call reporting such activity than have to tell you they are unable to retrieve large sums of money you have lost to scammers.

Connie Lewis

Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD

Harpswell