Utilities commission warns of phone scam

HALLOWELL ( AP) — The Maine Public Utilities Commission is alerting residents about a scam in which thieves pose as representatives of a local utility.

The commission says scammers contact consumers by phone, misrepresent themselves as utility employees and immediately demand payment. They often tell consumers to make a payment using a debit or credit card and direct them to call a number. The scammers tell residents that failure to pay will result in disconnection of utility service.

The commission asks residents to call the number on their utility bill if they have concerns about their account balance. The commission says a phone call, email, text or visit from someone requesting a utility payment from a debit or credit card is probably a scam. Scams can be reported to the attorney general at 1-800-436-2131.

10 days to be cut off coming scallop season

PORTLAND (AP) — Fishing regulators are proposing to trim 10 days from scallop fishing season along the state’s southern coast.

The state Department of Marine Resources announced the proposed terms of the 2015-16 scallop season on Thursday. The southern scalloping zone would be reduced from 70 to 60 days. The Midcoast and eastern Maine zone would have 70 days, the same as last year. The far eastern zone, which includes scalloprich Cobscook Bay, would remain at 50 days.

The proposal says the upcoming scallop fishing season would begin in early December and end in mid- April. The state is also proposing a series of targeted closures of waterways to scallop fishing.

The proposal will be the subject of public hearings in mid-September.