Scammers Targeting Family Members Of Persons In Custody

Submitted - CCSO

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has recently worked yet another case of fraud against family members who had a relative that was arrested in our county. This tactic involves calling shortly after a loved one or friend was legitimately arrested. The scammers then provide legitimate sounding instructions on how to complete the release process.

 In this scenario, the family member was supposedly talking to a “Lieutenant” with the “police station” (they insert any name and agency). This “lieutenant” then instructed them they needed to pay to enroll their arrested family member into a program called “Second Chance Community Supervision,” so they could be released from jail and get their ankle monitor. They withdrew cash and followed the texted instructions in order to pay via a barcode at a local gas station.

     Part two of the scam was a follow-up phone call, after paying the first amount of money, instructing the family to pay an additional amount for the bond to have the arrested family member released from custody. Again, the process was cash from their bank to another local gas station via a barcode provided by text to them from the fake “lieutenant”.

     Once the family member was not released by the time the “lieutenant” had told them, contact was made with the Columbia County Detention Facility via the published phone number. At this time, they discovered their family member was being held on “no bond” for the charges until first appearance with a judge and they had been victims of fraud.

Citizens should be aware that:

     Caller ID can be “spoofed” to display the Sheriff’s Office’s real phone number, so seeing our number on your caller ID does not confirm the call is legitimate.

     Call our US-90W offices back at (386) 752-9212, Fort White District Two office at (386) 497-3797, or the Detention Facility at (386) 755-7000.

     Scammers increasingly target elderly residents. Consider checking in with older family members or neighbors to make sure they are aware of this scam.

Several signs that a call like this is a scam:

     The caller claims to be with a law enforcement agency and demands payment for a “crime,” “fine,” or “failure to appear”.

     The caller instructs you to withdraw cash and go to any convenience store or gas station to pay for a program, ankle monitor, or bond.

     The caller asks you to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM or send cryptocurrency.

     The caller asks you to pay using gift cards (such as Google Play, Apple, or Visa gift cards).

     The caller requests personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account number, or debit/credit card number – to “confirm your identity”

     Legitimate fines are always paid directly to a government agency, either in person at the Columbia County Detention Facility or through the official online payment portal found on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office website.

     If you are ever in doubt, HANG UP, and independently dial the agency’s official published phone number — NEVER a number provided by the caller — and speak with a real person.

     All transactions regarding someone in custody at the Detention Facility will be done directly with a bail bonds agency that you contact or at the Detention Facility itself. Never through a convenience store bill payment portal, with cryptocurrency, or any texted links.

     COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE is located at 4917 US Hwy. 90 East, Lake City, Florida 32055-6288 www.columbiasheriff.org

Administration: (386) 752-9212 District Two Office: (386) 497-3797 Detention Facility: (386) 755-7000