BRODHEAD, Wis. -- The Brodhead Police Department is warning residents that phone scam artists are again working in the Brodhead area.

Police said that in the latest round of calls a person, or automated phone recording, informs people they have won a home security system worth more than $1,000.

Police Chief Tom Moczynski said if residents stay on the phone with the caller, the caller's ultimate goal is to obtain the resident's personal identifying information.

Police said the perpetrators attempt to gain names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, bank account numbers, bank routing numbers or any piece of information connected to an individual.

With this information, criminals can attempt to access bank account, credit card accounts or open lines of credit in a person's name.

Police said that when taking phone calls that seem suspicious, the best course of action is to simply hang up without providing the caller, or automated attendant, any information.

Moczynski recommended that people have a household policy to never give out any personal information to callers they don't know, or ones that initiated contact with residents first.

Moczynski added that the best way to avoid becoming a victim of these fraud schemes is to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.