FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — Law enforcement agencies are warning families about a sophisticated imposter scam targeting people who have relatives in jail, with scammers using publicly available inmate information to make their demands appear legitimate.
Authorities say criminals are monitoring online jail rosters and using information posted by law enforcement agencies to identify inmates and their relatives. The scammers then contact family members directly, posing as jail employees, police officers, court officials or bail bondsmen.
The callers typically create a sense of urgency, claiming the incarcerated relative needs immediate payment to be released or avoid additional legal trouble…