AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider is warning consumers about reports of pre-recorded phone calls from companies claiming to be able to help lower the interest rate on your credit card.

?There are reports from Maine consumers who have received the automated phone calls asking individuals to enter their debit or credit card number,? said Attorney General Schneider. ?Never provide any personal banking information based on an automated phone call. If you get one of these robo-calls, immediately hang up and contact our consumer hotline.?

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that the state will recover $1.3 million in sales, gasoline and special fuel taxes that were diverted by Philip Sewall, former president of M.W. Sewall & Co.

Philip Sewall was found guilty today in West Bath District Court on three counts of failure to pay the taxes collected and fined $2,000 on each count. The Court ordered Sewall to pay $50,000 within 12 months in addition to the $225,000 he has already paid to Maine Revenue Services.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that a former Kittery redemption center owner was sentenced to 21 months in jail, all but 21 days suspended, and two years of probation for his role in a large-scale bottle redemption fraud scheme.

New National Survey Shows Eighty-Two Percent of Young Adults Say They Have Read a Standard Text Message While Driving

AUGUSTA ? In an effort to educate young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving, Attorney General William J. Schneider announces that the State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection agencies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Ad Council are launching a new public service advertising campaign (PSA) nationwide.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Dennis Caris, 54, of Old Orchard Beach was convicted on all counts in a four count indictment charging him with felony Theft by Misapplication of Sales Tax, along with Failure to Truthfully Collect, Account, and Pay Over Sales Tax, all occurring from January 2007 to October 2009.

AUGUSTA ? With federal officials expecting record breaking oil prices this year, Attorney General William J. Schneider urges consumers to educate and protect themselves.

Starting every October, the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides pricing information through the State Heating Oil and Propane Program, a weekly joint data collection effort between EIA and states in the Northeast and Midwest for the winter season.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Alan Harding, 58, of Presque Isle was convicted following his no contest plea on all counts in a 12 count complaint charging Failure to Make and File Maine Income Tax Returns and Failure to Pay Maine Income Tax for tax years 2004 through 2009.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William Schneider announced that Tammy Barker, age 43, of Holden, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for misappropriating funds from the sales of 17 mobile homes entrusted to her on consignment from 2005 through 2006. Barker, who was formerly known as Tammy Sproul, took the money in connection with her operation of Sproul?s Home Center in Holden. The State alleged that she stole over $400,000 over an 18 month period and that she used the proceeds to gamble at Hollywood Slots.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Maine reached an agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc. (Maxim) to resolve allegations that it defrauded the Medicaid and Veterans Affairs health care benefits programs. The settlement will return $71,994 state only funds to the MaineCare program.

Maxim, one of the nation?s largest health care staffing agencies, has over 300 offices in more than 40 states, including Maine. The company provides in-home nursing and health aide services to patients with disabilities.

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that a sales agent of hunting and fishing licenses for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will serve 30 days in jail for misappropriating license fees that were supposed to be turned over to IF&W.