VIDALIA — The Vidalia Police Department is warning residents about recent telephone scams affecting the Miss-Lou.

Police Chief Arthur Lewis said VPD has received reports of callers posing as representatives from Publishers Clearing House and American Cash Awards.

The criminals call the victims and identify themselves as representatives. The callers inform residents they have won a large prize. In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the shipping fee via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas. If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten or harass the victim.

“Criminals use the phone to commit many different types of fraud, including sweepstakes and lottery frauds, loan fraud, club memberships and credit card scams,” Lewis said in an email. “It’s important to remember that scammers are good at what they do. They will say anything and target everyone to try to cheat people out of money.”

Lewis said scammers may utilize new technology so their number shows up as a local one on caller ID.

Residents are asked to report any suspicious phone calls to VPD as well as the Federal Trade Commission. Lewis also encourages residents to register their number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.