The Austintown Police Department is alerting residents of a phone scam involving scammers impersonating officers from the police department.

According to a post on the Austintown Police Department's Facebook page, the scam involves scammers calling would-be victims telling them to buy and send gift cards as a penalty for missing a court date.

Some calls even use the name Adam Hess, who is a real detective sergeant with the Austintown Police Department.

Police are reminding residents that the Austintown Police Department never requests gift card payments or demands payments for violations over the phone.

If you ever receive a call like this, you're asked not to engage, disclose any personal information or send money and instead hang up.