Several residents of the Freeport area have recently reported getting automated phone calls from a number that shows up on caller IDs as the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department and Freeport EMS.

In each case, the residents said when they answered they heard a prerecorded message, said Chris O'Leath, EMS assistant director.

“We're not certain exactly what it was. We don't use any robo-type calls,” O'Leath said.

Officials say the calls were likely the product of an unknown person “spoofing” the fire department number, possibly to solicit money or gather information from people who are on the “Do Not Call” list.

Spoofing is when someone uses a telephone network to falsify information received by caller ID software to disguise their identity or real phone number from the person they are calling.

The fire department and EMS both seek donations or memberships through mailings and other methods, O'Leath said.

The phone company has been notified about the issue, he said.

The Federal Communications Commission advises residents to never give out account numbers, Social Security numbers or passwords over the phone. If a caller claims to be from a government agency or company, they are advised to hang up and call the number listed on an account statement or official website.

People who have a voice mail account with their phone service should make sure to set a password to prevent spoofers from gaining access.