Natchez — A caller claiming to be from the Red Cross asking for social security and bank account numbers is a fraud, Red Cross officials said.

Several Brookhaven residents said they received calls from a woman claiming to be a representative of the Red Cross.

The woman told them that money was available from Hurricane Katrina funds, and she needed their information to make a direct deposit to their bank accounts.

The Red Cross does not make direct deposits to bank accounts, officials said.

Citizens receiving this call or any other call they suspect to be fraudulent should not hesitate to call their local law enforcement agencies, officials said.