U.S. Customs and Border Protection is warning people to watch out for scam phone calls after receiving a spike in reports across the country from people who said callers are asking for banking information and social security numbers.

The scam caller reportedly tells the target that CBP has intercepted a shipment of drugs with their name and address and that cooperation is important to ensure the case is resolved, according to a news release from CBP. If the target does not give the requested personal information, the fake caller reportedly tells them they have dispatched the police.

If the target asks for the scammer's name, he gives information of a real CBP employee found online, and some provide fake case numbers and badge numbers, according to the release.

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"If CBP suspects illegal activity, we will not call a suspect or a victim requesting money or social security numbers," said CBP Houston Acting Director of Field Operations Rod Hudson. "To be clear, CBP will not make telephone calls threatening citizens that law enforcement is on the way or promising money for information. Anyone receiving a call from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about a shipment of drugs or money should recognize that it is a scam regardless of how authentic the caller may sound."

CBP also warned of pre-recorded messages stating that a "shipment of drugs or money with your name on it and has been intercepted." The message prompts the target to press #1 to speak with a CBP officer/agent, and the scammer then tries to get the target's banking information.

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CBP offers a few tips to identify scams: If the caller asks someone to pay a fee or share Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers over the phone, it's a scam. CBP never uses gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Scammers can make caller ID phone numbers look real, even when they're fake.

If someone is unsure whether the call is real, they should contact CBP through its website or report the phone scam online to the Federal Trade Commission, but never call back the questionable number.