BRUNSWICK — A computer hacking operation has tried to trick three Maine school departments into handing over employees’ personal tax information.

The Portland Press Herald reports the hacker or hackers posed as a district superintendent and sought information from W-2 forms. The attempt succeeded at least partially with the Brunswick school district.

Brunswick Superintendent Paul Perzanoski has apologized to school department employees whose information was sent to a phony email address. A worker who sent the forms thought it was in response to a request from the superintendent.

The worker who sent the forms was suspicious enough to delete Social Security numbers from the forms they sent.

The Brunswick Police Department is investigating the scam.

School officials say Biddeford and Kittery schools have also been targeted.

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