Alachua County Court Services is warning residents about a phone scam targeting community members and family members of incarcerated individuals.
In the scam, a caller claims to be a government official who can arrange an incarcerated individual's release from custody in exchange for a fee, sometimes before the individual’s first appearance hearing.
Residents should remember:
- The Alachua County Jail will never call family members to request that a bond be posted over the phone or online.
- Never send money or post a bond through a website at the direction of an unsolicited caller.
- If you need to post a bond, contact a trusted, licensed bail bondsman or call the Alachua County Jail at 352-491-4444 for guidance on the proper bond process.
- If you receive a suspicious call regarding a loved one being in custody, do not provide personal, financial or banking information.
- If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and verify the information by contacting the Alachua County Jail.
Residents who believe they have been the victim of a scam should report it to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
For more information, contact Alachua County Pretrial Services Supervisor Ebony Glenn at 352-548-3808 or eglenn@alachuacounty.gov.
