A con artist can claim to be anyone when he calls you on the phone. That's why you need to be skeptical.

A couple of days ago, Emma, a listener in Kent got a call from a man claiming to be with Medicaid. He told her it was her "lucky day."

"Because I was going to get a new Medicaid card!"

And this new card was going to be free, the caller said.

"And I said, 'My first one didn't cost me.' He said, 'Oh yes it did, but this one isn't going to and you need it and you need it now!"

Emma says the caller was very pushy and wouldn't take no for an answer. He wanted her date of birth, Social Security Number and bank account information.

"He said, 'Lady I told you, you need this card and you need it now. It's not going to cost you anything.' "

He told Emma he was calling from the Medicaid office in Washington, DC. He even gave her an 800-number to call. But when she looked at the Caller ID, Emma saw he was calling from a local number in the 425 area code.

Emma knew he wanted her personal information to steal her money. She also knew what to do.

"I just hung up on him."

And she called the Kent police department. Way to go Emma! If someone calls you trying to get your personal information -- you do the same thing.

For More Information:

Putting Telephone Scams... on Hold

Fraud: Recognize It. Report It. Stop It.