ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County officials are warning residents about a potential phone scam involving spoofed calls related to Medicaid.

Several residents have reported receiving calls from numbers with the 828-250 prefix, falsely claiming to be from Buncombe County Health & Human Services. County officials said these calls are not legitimate and may be part of an effort to fraudulently obtain personal information.

Authorities say scammers may spoof caller ID numbers to make it appear as though the call is coming from a government agency.

“Medicaid and Buncombe County will not call or email individuals to ask for personal information,” officials said in a public alert. “Be cautious about providing personal information over the phone or online. Never share your social security number, Medicaid ID, bank information, or any other personally identifiable information without verifying that the request is legitimate.”

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is encouraged to contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office at 828-250-6670. Consumer protection tips are available here.