The Alabama Department of Public Health is warning that scammers pretending to work there are calling people asking for personal information.

North Alabamians are reporting scam calls where the caller says they work for the Alabama Department of Public Health, but then, they start asking the recipient to tell them their personal medical information.

"Consumers are getting calls from someone claiming to be from the Alabama Department of Public Health and asking a lot of questions about their medical history, insurance information, personal information that would not be obtained by the Alabama Department of Public Health," said Belinda McCormick.

McCormick is the Vice-President of the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama. She says there are certain signs people should look out for so they don't fall victim to scam calls.

"They don't identify the person they're calling. It's very generic, the calls that are being received, which is a red flag," said McCormick.

"If you answer the phone and they start asking for personal information, you know, you wouldn't normally give personal information out over the phone. And if someone is truly trying to get in contact with you, they will ask you to come by," said Lieutenant Jesse Sumlin, Huntsville Police Department Public Information Officer.

Now, one number that shows up on caller ID has a Montgomery area code. But the number itself cannot be found anywhere on the Alabama Department of Public Health's website.

"Anytime you're asked about personal information, stop. If it's legitimate, you can call them back, they can call you back. Preferably, you call them back at a number you know to be that organization," said McCormick.

If you don't recognize a number, though, your best option is to not answer the call.

"When you get a call, an unknown number, a number that has an area code that doesn't exist. Those type of things should be a sign that this might not be a call you should accept," said Sumlin.

The Huntsville Police Department says that you shouldn't be giving out your credit card information or social security number unless you know the person you're talking to and what business they're from.

If you have received one of these scam calls and given out your credit card number or other personal information, you should contact police.