David Lombardo is reporting for the Times Union state officials are warning residents about potential scammers calling random people and pretending to be from a government agency. The fraud involves masking the caller's phone number to make it look like they are calling from a location other than their own, a process known as spoofing. They then attempt to get information that could be used to steal someone's identity. "Government agencies do not typically call people with little or no warning asking for sensitive information or trying to get a payment over the phone," said state Secretary of State Rossana Rosado in a statement. "If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Look for the warning signs and verify the caller before engaging." Spoofing is illegal and it is becoming increasingly common. Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be from a government agency is advised to hang up and call the agency back using the contact information published on an official website. Help with phone scams can be obtained by calling 1-800-697-1220 during regular business hours, or by visiting www [dot] dos [dot] ny [dot] gov [slash] consumerprotection anytime. Read the full story in the Times Union.