“President Obama is Not offering to pay your bills,” is the title of a recent press release from the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Tennessee & Northwest Georgia, warning consumers not to divulge personal information to any calls requesting information such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, etc.

The release is in response to a recent phone scam seen across the country via telephone, text, and other social networking sites which falsely informs individuals that President Obama has signed a stimulus package that will pay a person’s utility bills, this is a hoax, in an effort to obtain personal information that could be used to commit identity theft, or worse, according to Calhoun Utilities Account Coordinator Kenny Rogers.

Calhoun Utilities issued a press release warning customers of the scam and to not give out this personal information. Residents are encouraged to contact the Calhoun City Police Department, Gordon County Sheriff's Office, or Calhoun Utilities should anyone receive a phone call of this nature.

Currently, Rogers has reported that no activity has yet occured with Calhoun Utilities customers, or residents, according to the Calhoun City Police Department.

Additionally, a recent call has been circulated through Gordon County, Calhoun, and the state to residents falsely informing them they missed jury duty and would be subject to time in jail, and a $500 dollar fine, according to Gordon County Clerk of Superior Court Brian Brannon in a press release to citizens.

“We are getting the word out this is not a Gordon County Superior Court jury management issue, and we are telling people, if they get any phone calls to contact our office. There is no such thing as a Failure to Appear database,” said Brannon.

Citizens should not be concerned about spending time in jail or paying a $500 fine, according to Brannon who is encouraging anyone who receives the phony phone call to save the number to assist the court in tracking down the genesis of the “robo” call.

Recently, no more phone calls of this nature have been reported in Gordon County, but citizens are warned to never give away personal information via telephone.

" I don’t know of any reason you shoud give out your Social Security Number or date of birth over the phone, If you’ve got a cell phone company or utilities company or bank where you have set up aan account they will have this information," said Calhoun City Police Lieutenant Tony Pyle.

Should citizens receive any phone call of this nature, they are encouraged to contact any branch of law enforcement.