FORD COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Ford County are investigating a phone scam.

Callers have been contacting southwest Kansas residents and identifying themselves as Department of Treasury officials, according to a media release.

The caller then informs the victim they are recipients of a “Grant,” part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) program and funded by the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

The caller than informs the victim to register with the bank for a $250 fee and they documents for the “Grant” would be sent via FedEx and the “Grant” money sent via Moneygram in two separate checks containing a reference number.

It is not known if the caller will send documents, according to the Sheriff’s Department. If sent, the documents colorful, elaborate and will be fraudulent official government documents.

The documents are fake but some are good enough to pass a cursory review, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The caller, whose first language was not English, used a 202 area code and had pieces of the victim’s identifying information.

Because the criminals are also involved in identity theft, the sheriff recommends if you are contacted, delete the electronic message or hang up as soon as you recognize it is a scam attempt. Do not attempt to play along or elicit information that can be used against him.