Authorities advise residents to be wary if they get a phone call from someone claiming to be a relative and asking for bail money to get out of jail, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office public safety information coordinator Grant Bissell said.
A Fenton-area resident recently called the Leader reporting that she received one of the calls but she did not fall for the scam.
Bissell said the Sheriff’s Office has not received many recent reports about the scam. However, he said the scam is a common one and is particularly popular when schools are on winter or spring break.
As part of the scam, the callers contact phone numbers they believe belong to older people who may have grandchildren. The scammers typically speak quickly, act frightened and ask the “grandparents” for money to get them out of jail. The scammers also urge the victims not to contact the so-called grandchildren’s’ parents so they don’t get in trouble, Bissell said.
Bissell said the scammer often tells the victim that someone from the jail will call back shortly, and when the scammer calls back, the victim is instructed to either wire money or purchase gift cards and then provide the information from the cards to the caller.
The scammer often will call back one or two more times claiming additional charges have been discovered or claiming the first payment did not go through, Bissell added..
“The easiest way to avoid a scam like this is to not get too wrapped up in what the person is saying,” Bissell said. “Then you should call someone who can verify the claims made by the person on the phone. Often, it is best to call the person the caller is claiming to be. That person will likely answer the call and say he or she is not in jail.
“You should take down call-back information, just in case it turns out to be legitimate.”
Unfortunately, Bissell said, it is difficult for law enforcement to track down the source of the fake phone calls, and it is nearly impossible to retrieve money after it is sent.
He also said if anyone receives a call they believe is a scam to report it to the Sheriff’s Office, whether they fell for it or not, so authorities can keep track of scams and warn residents about them.
Those who believe they have been scammed or attempted to be scammed should call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515.