Almost everyone has experienced a spam call where an unknown number pops up on their caller ID and after answering, someone on the other end asks for personal information or money.

Some phones may label such calls as "spam risks," but some scammers are now using a technique called "spoofing," which makes the ID look like a familiar number is calling, state officials warn.

In the last two weeks, the New Haven area has seen an uptick in these spoof callers posing as police officers.

"What we've noticed is that these calls are fairly sophisticated. They're using spoofed phone numbers," said Christian Bruckhart, spokesman for the New Haven Police Department. "People receive calls that appear to be from an actual law enforcement number, so it looks like it's from the police department."

These scammers are impersonating officers, using the names of New Haven cops to lend legitimacy to their scam.

"Here's the level of sophistication: if somebody has to Google the calling number while on the call, it may show up as a legitimate police department phone number," Bruckhart said. "Or if they Google the officer, it may show that this person is actually employed by the department."

But these calls are not coming from the officer or the department, he said. Scammers tell victims they missed a court date or have an arrest warrant and need to send money to resolve the matter.

"We do not ask for money," Bruckhart said. "The police department does not ask for money to resolve issues. If someone receives such a call, they should hang up and if in doubt, call their local police department."

While prevalent in the New Haven area, the same tactics are being used by several scamming organizations and has become a problem nationwide, said Kaitlyn Krasselt, spokeswoman for Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection.

"Personal scams or postal scams have been a problem for many years, and they are difficult to crack down on," Krasselt said. "This is something every state, even at the federal level, deals with."

The advanced sophistication of the recent scam calls in New Haven makes them harder to catch, but there are red flags to watch for, officials warn.

"Often, scammers create high-pressure threats, saying that if you don't act immediately, you'll be arrested or fined a lot of money," Krasselt said. "They make it sound legitimate, creating fear that if you don't pay immediately, there will be serious repercussions."

But this is not how government and police agencies conduct business.

"The IRS and the State's Department of Revenue Services won't call you and threaten you over the phone," Krasselt said.

Preventing scams is challenging, but education and awareness are effective tactics.

Scammers often pose as tax or debt collectors, banks, or credit card companies. Knowing your finances and what you owe is one way to protect yourself. If a call seems suspicious, hang up and try calling the verified direct number to the agency or organization, whether it's the police department or your bank.

These scam calls can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission or the state Department of Consumer Protection.

"That's really important because it lets us know if something is happening that we need to get the word out about," Krasselt said. "We may not necessarily know it's happening until we get complaints, allowing us to inform others."

To report a Connecticut business to the Department of Consumer Protection, complaints can be filed online, by mail, email, or fax. Visit portal.ct.gov/dcp/file-a-complaint for more information.