The Erie County Sheriff's Office has put out an alert about a phone scam.

Authorities say they have received multiple reports of phone calls from someone saying they are from the sheriff's office. They will then go on to say that they owe money for fines or need to bail out a family member.

The caller will then request payment from a credit card or by purchasing gift cards. The sheriff's office is reminding everyone that it will never directly call you to solicit money.

Anyone who does receive a call like this is asked to hang up immediately and report it to police.