Lately, we have seen multiple situations where scammers are contacting family members of inmates and pretending to be with the jail, the court, or a bail bondsman.
Here is how the scam usually works:
They call the family and claim that money needs to be sent immediately. They may tell you to go buy gift cards, use a Bitcoin machine, send money through an app, or pay some strange “fee” to get the case dropped.
Let me be very clear:
The jail is not going to call you and tell you to buy gift cards.
A real bondsman is not going to tell you to send money through a Bitcoin machine.
You cannot pay a random person on the phone and magically make a criminal case disappear.
That is not how any of this works.
In some of these cases, the family was already speaking with a legitimate bondsman. The scammer then called and told them they no longer needed the bondsman because the case could be dropped if they sent money right away.
The family sent the money.
Then the scammer disappeared.
No bond.
No case dropped.
No refund.
Just gone.
If someone contacts you about an inmate and starts pressuring you to send money fast, stop and verify everything.
When in doubt, go to the jail in person before you pay anybody any money.
In our area, a legitimate bondsman will gladly meet you at the jail. The jailer can also verify whether that bondsman is authorized to write bonds at that jail.
Do not trust a phone number just because the caller gives it to you. Do not trust someone just because they know the inmate’s name, charge, or jail information. Scammers are getting better, and they know just enough to sound believable.
Call the jail directly using the official number. Go to the jail if something feels off. Talk to the bondsman you were already working with.
A real bondsman will explain the process clearly. A real bondsman will not tell you to buy gift cards. A real bondsman will not promise that your case will be dropped because you paid some mystery fee.
Please warn your friends and family.
If someone you love is in jail, emotions are already high. Scammers know that. They prey on panic, confusion, and desperation.
Slow down. Verify. Then act.
Because gift cards don’t drop charges, and Bitcoin machines don’t make warrants disappear.
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