SMITH COUNTY — Authorities in Smith County are investigating an alleged scam.

The Smith County Hospital reported on their social media account they had been made aware that residents in the community have recently received telephone calls with caller ID indicating that it is someone from Smith County Memorial Hospital calling.

Apparently the caller then has been asking the resident for credit card information to process a payment.

The hospital reminded area residents that the telephone calls are not coming from Smith County Memorial Hospital

The hospital staff may make calls about outstanding accounts but you will never receive a call from Smith County Memorial Hospital staff asking for payment unless you have first receive a written statement from the hospital with the amount owed.

If at any time you receive a call that caller ID says is from SCMH, and you have any reason to question the validity of the call, hang up and call the hospital from your phone.  If the call was valid, hospital staff will confirm. It if is not valid you can help authorities trace the source of the call.