Some Maine restaurateurs and caterers have been targeted by two possible scams involving the sale of hand-washing posters, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Center, said that an 'official-looking letter' that appears to have been issued by the state's Health Inspection Program asks that special hand-washing posters be purchased from a certain company for $19.95 each. The letter includes an 800 number that can be used to place an order.

"The Maine CDC did not issue these letters and there is no requirement to purchase these posters,'' Mills said, adding that Maine law requires hand-washing signs to be posted over all hand-washing sinks to remind employees that they must wash their hands before returning to their work and before preparing or serving food.

For more information, please contact Maine CDC's Health Inspection Program 287-5671 or Maine Public Health.