PORTLAND — Two Mainers are in Washington to testify at a hearing about a phone scam originating out of Jamaica.

York County Chief Deputy Bill King and Kim Nichols, of Hermon, are testifying Wednesday at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, which is co-chaired by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.

King has investigated scam reports and Nichols will testify how her elderly father was cheated out of $85,000.

Officials say scam artists calling from area code 876 in Jamaica prey on victims by saying they’ve won a lottery or a car but need to make payments to cash in.

FairPoint Communications phone company has a website, www.bewareof876.com, offering tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. FairPoint Maine President Mike Reed will provide written testimony to the committee.