A scammer with a foreign accent has been calling Bradley County residents and trying to get personal information, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Spokesman Bob Gault said several people reported receiving calls from a caller who has a foreign accept and said he was a representative of the federal Medicaid program. He asked them for personal information such as Social Security numbers, birth dates and maiden names.
The calls supposedly came from the 617 area code, which is Boston, but Gault said modern technology makes it easy to disguise the caller's true location.
Anyone who is contacted and asked for personal information by phone is likely the target of an identity thief. Residents should provide no information, but hang up immediately and then report the call to law enforcement.