BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A growing scam targeting families desperate to secure the release of loved ones from jail is prompting a WBRC On Your Side Safety Check across Jefferson County.
Scammers are posing as legitimate bail bondsmen, reaching out through official-looking channels and offering what appears to be a fast and affordable way out of jail. Investigators say the scheme relies on urgency, fear and a lack of familiarity with how the bail process works.
One local woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said her family lost thousands of dollars after she was arrested in March 2025 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. While she was being held in the Jefferson County Jail, she said someone claiming to be a bail bondsman contacted her through the jail’s messaging system…