BERRIEN CO — Local police are warning about phone scams. Victims are being told they've won money, gift cards and other prizes. They're asking for credit card numbers and other valuable information. Unfortunately, some people are giving in.

WSBT talked with Betty German, a Three Oaks woman who says her phone just won't stop ringing. In fact, she's a little hesitant to answer it at all lately.

"My caller ID, when it comes up it's the SLG, I know it's [the scammers]," she said. "And I've told them my phone's tapped, just to get them to quit calling me."

German is one of hundreds in our area being targeted by phone scammers. She said the callers told her she won a gift card from Wal-Mart, a gas card and thousands of dollars.

Even though she says 'No thanks' every time, they keep calling, asking for her credit card numbers to verify the winnings.

"All they have to do is pay the excise tax, sales tax, the shipping and handling for the prize," said Berrien County Deputy Karen Klug, describing the scam. "And actually they'll never get the prize or the money."

And in the last month Berrien County police received at least one complaint a day from others in Betty's same situation. Investigators are asking any victims to come forward.

"A lot of them are not reported," said Deputy Klug. "And a lot of our seniors fail to report them to law enforcement because they're embarrassed or ashamed that they may have been taken."

Betty German didn't fall for it. She's just frustrated because the scammers won't quit calling. But she does have some helpful advice to help others who might be going through the same thing: hang up, call the police, turn them in, just don't fall for it.

Police say Betty is doing everything right, but they believe there could be a lot more victims out there they don't know about. Investigators want you to call your local police department if you suspect you're getting calls like this, or if you've fallen for one recently.

It's also important to know how a phone scam might sound. Police say if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Plus, in this specific round of calls the scammer is asking victims to pay a $2 fee to claim their prizes.