Protecting your personal and financial information is more important than ever.

For the second time in a week, Adams County Court Judge John Hudson has been told his name and office are being used to try to scam Natchez residents out of their hard-earned money.

Hudson said he has been told a person or group of people is calling Natchez residents, leaving a recorded message, identifying themselves as being with Hudson’s office. The scammers say on their message that a civil case has been filed against the resident and tells them to call an 800-number to pay a fine to resolve the matter.

Another message, Hudson said, tells residents they missed their jury service and to send money to a specific address in order to avoid arrest.

Hudson reminds residents that no court would ever call any resident and ask them to send money. He said reports have been filed with law enforcement agencies about the incidents, but Hudson wants to get the word out to make sure no Natchez or Adams County resident falls victim to these thieves.

This incident serves as a good reminder to all of us to safeguard any personal information, such as our Social Security number, credit card numbers and account passwords.

Sadly, it’s often our older residents on whom scammers prey.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends these tips for protecting your personal information and money:

-Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.

-Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back to anyone.

-Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial information.

-Know that wiring money is like sending cash. Con artists often ask people to wire money because the transaction cannot be reversed.

-After a disaster, donate money only to established charities.

-Remember, no investment is a sure thing. If someone promises you returns or low risk on an investment, know that it’s probably a scam.

If you think you are the victim of a scam or identity theft, please report the incident to the Natchez Police Department or the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.