Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued an urgent consumer warning about unsolicited calls to consumers offering reduced rates on mortgages or credit card debt.

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently reported that consumers have received calls that appear on their caller ID to come from the telephone number (203) 652-4022 and associated with "Debt Free."

The caller offers to "drastically reduce mortgage rates" or cut credit card debt by at least 50 percent. Consumers may receive a message to "press 1 now..." to be put on the company's do not call list.

Consumers should not provide any personal or financial information in response to calls -- particularly unsolicited calls -- promising to save them money by reducing mortgage rates, cutting credit card debt, offering winnings or easy money.

"Our advice to consumers: hang up on unsolicited offers," Blumenthal said. "This scam victimizes our most vulnerable citizens -- homeowners desperate to save their families and escape financial ruin. This reprehensible ruse -- false promises of reduced rates on mortgage and debt -- is actually a scavenger hunt for private, personal information on consumers that may be illegally exploited. Consumers who divulge details hopeful for better lives will find only deeper financial ruin."

If consumers receive a call that appears to come from (203) 652-4022 -- or any unsolicited offers - they should find out as much as possible about the call without giving out any personal or financial information.

Consumers who have information regarding such calls - or who have been victimized by such a scam - should immediately report it to Blumenthal's office by e-mail at Attorney.General@po.state.ct.us or by phone at (860) 808-5318; National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, a service of the National Consumers League (NCL) or call 1-800-876-7060; or the Federal Trade Commission or 1-877-FTC-HELP.