A rash of phone scams has been spreading through southwestern Connecticut, and the scammers say they're calling from the state Department of Public Health. Nydia Tavares, of Westport, says she received a call on Friday from a man identifying himself as an employee of the Department of Public Health. She says he told her she won a $1,000 shopping spree and all she had to do was tell him her checking account number. Department officials told News 12 Connecticut they're not calling people promising money in exchange for personal information and that the call was part of a scam. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) says he's received almost a dozen calls about the scam in the last week. He is advising residents not to give out any information and says an investigation is underway. Anyone who does receive a phone call of this type should contact the attorney general?s office. Related Links: Putting Telephone Scams on Hold Department of Consumer Protection