Scammers are calling families of people recently booked into the Franklin County Jail, pretending to be law enforcement and demanding payment to free their loved ones.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office posted a scam alert on Wednesday, Oct. 28 warning the public about the ongoing scheme. The Franklin County Jail serves the county that includes Hilliard.
The callers claim they can arrange a release through a diversion program, probation or electronic monitoring such as an ankle bracelet, according to the sheriff's office. They pressure victims to act fast. Payment is demanded through gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers or other hard-to-trace methods. In some cases, the callers also try to collect bank account or credit card numbers.
The scammers impersonate sheriff's office employees, court officials or other government representatives, the agency said. They may use publicly available arrest information, such as online court records, to make their claims appear legitimate.
The sheriff's office stressed three points: government agencies will never call to request payment in exchange for releasing someone from jail; legitimate fines, bonds or fees are handled through official channels; and requests for secrecy, urgency or unusual payment methods are strong indicators of a scam.
Residents who receive one of these calls should hang up immediately, avoid providing money or personal financial information, and verify a loved one's status by contacting the jail or court directly through official phone numbers. The sheriff's office asks that residents report such calls to the agency directly.
