Residents are being warned about scammers attempting to obtain Social Security numbers under the threat of arrest.

The auto-message that comes with the call, many of which have out-of-state area codes from places like Texas and Georgia, claims that there has been a suspicious trail associated with your Social Security Number and they need you to provide personal information, adding that, if you don’t return the call, you will be subject arrest. Be clear that the Social Security Administration (SSA) NEVER threatens someone with the potential for arrest or leaves a pre-recorded message asking you to return a call.

If you receive such a call, the SSA has protocols in place for you to report the number that called you and if you haven’t, tips to be on the lookout for. Access it by going to https://www.ssa.gov/scam/