Rep. Tim Marks, D-Pittston, will host a community forum on consumer protections against scams and fraud on Monday, May 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln County Communications Center in Wiscasset.

Attorney General Janet Mills will lead a discussion on steps that Maine residents can take to avoid becoming a victim of a scam or fraud. The event is free and open to the public.

Scam artists use clever schemes to defraud millions of people each year, threatening financial security and generating revenue for criminal organizations and common crooks.

They use phone calls, email and the Internet to trick victims into giving them money or personal information.