Effingham Health System is making the public aware of scammers who are targeting people in the area.

The scammers telephone the individual, claim to be from Effingham Hospital and ask for personal information such as:

* Date of birth

* Social Security number

* Credit card number

* PIN numbers and/or

* They request prescription numbers or information related to payment of a supposed bill.

The scammers may also ask people to call a toll free number, 1-866-536-2405.

Effingham Health CIO Mary Pizzino said the health system is aware of the scam, and wants the public to know that Effingham Health System does not request this type of information from patients in this way.

Anyone calling from EHS will clearly identify themselves and the department in which they work and provide a local telephone number to call them back, if necessary.

Patients can call the main number 754-6451 to verify the identity of a caller from Effingham Health System. The Better Business Bureau says the safe approach to any call asking for personal information is just to hang up the phone.

* Do not give out any personal or financial information over the phone to any unknown caller.

* Do not provide or confirm any bank account, credit card, medical information or other personal information over the phone until confirming the legitimacy of the call.