NATCHEZ — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of reported phone scammers attempting to deceive residents into giving them money.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said the calls usually originate from California with a man and woman on the phone.

The woman tells the victim she represents the federal government and is calling in reference to the victim embezzling money from the Internal Revenue Service, Patten said.

“She then turns the line over to (a man), who acts as a senior investigator who is working the case,” Patten said. “He then asks the victim, ‘What are you doing embezzling money from the government?’ and begins a line of pressure and threats wherein he tells the victim that they are going to take the victim to court and that they need to pay the amount owed or else.”

The man then reportedly offers the victim the option to settle out of court by paying right then on the phone by using a credit card, Patten said. The amount to settle is often in the thousands of dollars, Patten said.

Anyone who receives a call of this nature should note the phone number, hang up and contact ACSO at 601-442-2752, Patten said.