Scammers Should Be in the Slammer for Scamming Inmates

Scammers are at it again, but this time they’re killing two birds, or should we say jail birds with one stone!

Posing as bondsman or police officers, scammers are taking advantage of the vulnerability of inmates, their families, and the police officers who want to make sure they don’t reoffend. Take for example these two scenarios:

Scenario 1:
You receive a call from someone claiming to be your brother’s bondsman and who demands you wire funds or else his bond will be revoked.

Scenario 2:
A so-called police officer calls your local precinct requesting for the most recent list of released inmates. Coincidentally, after the precinct has given this list, they receive a call from an ex-inmate (your brother) claiming that someone from a bonding agency called them demanding they send over X amount of money because they are a “flight risk”, or else their bond will be revoked.

Unfortunately, phone numbers of bail bondsman clients are available through public records, so this scam has made inmates and their families a pretty easy target.

Here are a few tips that will help you and your loved ones steer clear from these Bail Bond scammers:

1. A bail bondsman and police officer will never call requesting for payments over the phone.
2. Know that it’s a RED FLAG when someone calls to tell you that a loved one is in jail and that you can help them get out for a fee.
3. If a bondsman calls you, do your research and call them directly to verify their identity before fulfilling their demands.
4. If you receive a call from either a bondsman, never share personal financial information, wire money, or pay with a credit card over the phone, without a bail bonds contract. Make sure the contract is explained in detail and all questions have been answered before you make a payment.
5. If you do not know or cannot personally verify the person who is demanding you wire money, hang up the phone.
6. If you receive a call from law enforcement, hang up the phone, find the number of the law enforcement agency the person claims to be from, and call to verify their identity.

If you have been a victim or believe you have received a call from a Bail Bonds scammer, contact your local precinct and report it to the FCC.