MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital officials are warning of a scam where they say people using MMH phone numbers try to gain access to personal information such as credit card numbers.

“This is a ‘masking’ fraud, known as phone spoofing, in which the caller is using MMH phone numbers and representing themselves as MMH employees for the express purpose of stealing personal information,” Bob Wolleben, MMH CEO, said in a news release. “There is no technology solution we know of to prevent the random use of MMH phone numbers to scam unsuspecting residents.”

MMH officials say people should never to share any personal information over the phone. The circumstances in which MMH requires the collection of personal information are “very limited,” the release says. Hospital officials ask people to notify them when they receive one of the scam calls.

“Each of the incidents we are aware of has been reported to local police officials. We intend to apply the full weight of the law to anyone we can determine with law enforcements assistance is conducting these "masking" phone calls,” Wolleben said.

Spoofing occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to a caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally. U.S. law and FCC rules prohibit most types of spoofing, MMH said.

People may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be careful about responding to any request for personal identifying information.

Hospital officials say give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.

Those who get an inquiry from someone who says they represent Massena Memorial Hospital seeking personal information should hang up and call the hospital. Officials say people can ask the caller their name, department and phone number you can call them back on.

“Massena Memorial Hospital has received several complaints from community members regarding being Phone Spoofed with a hospital number,” Mark Brouillette, senior director professional/practice management and ancillary services, said in the release. “We have investigated our phone systems and these calls did not come from the hospital. People should ask for a name, department and phone number to call back on. This way they can be sure it is or is not a hospital call.”