WHEELING, WV -- Red Cross officials say if it's someone's idea of a joke, it is not funny.

Pranksters have been calling the families of service men and women, claiming to be volunteers with the Red Cross, and telling the family that there loved one has been killed in action or taken as a prisoner of war.

Red Cross officials say only the military notifies families when a soldier, sailor or airman is killed, and they almost always deliver that news in person.

They're angry someone is pulling this prank in the name of the Red Cross.

"These families are already under enough stress," says Red Cross Emergency Coordinator Raymond Braddock. "Their sons and daughters are in the Middle East and in a lot of cases they don't know exactly where they are. And for someone to do something like this, I just can't fathom what's going on."

No local families have been targeted so far.

If you think you've gotten a call like this, the Red Cross wants you to call their hotline number at 1-888-309-9679.

The Red Cross will report the prank phone call to the authorities.

-Eric Minor, NEWS 9