State warns businesses to beware telephone advertising sales scam

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State G. William Diamond on Tuesday warned Maine businesses to beware of fraudulent telephone solicitations for advertising in a non-existent “Division of Motor Vehicles Directory Yearbook.”

Diamond said two Maine businesses — Taylor Brook Clinic in Auburn and Macon Manufacturing in Caribou — had contacted the Division of Motor Vehicles to complain about the telephone solicitations.

Diamond said a caller had identified himself as “Officer Frank Shannon of the Maine Division of Motor Vehicles” and asked the business people if they wanted to buy ads in the “DMV Directory Yearbook.” The businesses were told the ads in the fictitious yearbook would cost from $500 to $1,400.

“There is no such directory and no officer Shannon,” said Diamond, “nor is there a solicitor registered or authorized to conduct such a campaign. It is important that the public be made aware of this scam.”

Based on the two complaints his office received, Diamond said, “It’s probably a tip-of-the-iceberg type of thing,” speculating that a number of businesses may have received similar calls.

Diamond said his staff would investigate the complaints and also would turn the matter over to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation.