RICHMOND — The FBI’s Richmond Division Office is warning consumers to be on alert for a prolific phone scam.

“The Richmond FBI has received multiple calls from the community complaining of a phone scam involving someone calling them claiming to represent the U.S. government who threatens to arrest them if they fail to pay thousands of dollars,” states an FBI press release. “The originating number used by the fraudsters often appears on caller ID as the number for an FBI Field Office.”

The FBI says it does not call private citizens requesting money. “If citizens receive a call that seems suspicious, they should disconnect immediately and notify law enforcement,” the release stated.