The calls are frightening.

Local law enforcement officials say Whitfield County residents are receiving calls from people posing as deputies from the Cook County, Ill., Sheriff’s Office (Chicago) saying their family members have been in an accident. The person is asked to dial *72 and then a 773 area code for more information.

But according to a spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the calls are part of a scam that inmates from the 9,600-bed Cook County Jail have been running for several years. When the person hits * 72, inmates are given access to the person’s phone service and are able to make calls and charge the calls to the person’s phone number.

“They have called St. Louis and Las Vegas,” said Penny Masteck, spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. “Our belief is they will pick a random area code and begin dialing. If they have some success, they will keep dialing.”

Lt. Nancy Chadwick with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office said four people reported the scam over the weekend. The Dalton Police Department and Whitfield County E-911 also received complaints.

When the person answers the phone, a recording says, “This call is coming from the Cook County Jail.” The inmates will talk loudly over the call and the person may not hear the recording, Masteck said.

Some arrests have been made over the years and the Cook County’s Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the recent incidents, Masteck said. And Cook County officials are changing the phone system to prevent inmates from sending the calls from the 800 pay phones inside the jail, she said. One change includes a recording that says, “This is not an emergency call. This call is not coming from a law enforcement officer.”

Residents who are getting repeated calls can call 1-800-844-6591 to have their number blocked, Masteck said. The number to call if you want to file a report for fraudulent phone calls with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office is 1-773-869-6838.

“We are advising everyone not to dial *72,” Masteck said. “There is never a reason to call *72 if there is an emergency.”