Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory is warning citizens of a scam that continues to resurface in our area involving scammers falsely claiming to represent a bonding company.
The scammer contacts family members of incarcerated individuals claiming they offer services to bond their family member out of jail. The caller may provide a local address and phone number in an attempt to look legitimate. The caller may ask the victim to pay the fee using cryptocurrency or money transfer services.
In some cases, scammers may also call or offer other “services” or request other fees, such as payment for ankle monitoring devices they claim are required as part of the release process.
This Is A Scam! Sheriff Guillory wants to remind residents there are a few tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim:
Always resist the pressure to make an immediate decision.
Verify any information provided by independently looking up the business and contacting them yourself.
Never send money based on a request made over the phone.
Always trust your instinct, if it doesn’t sound right hang up and call your local law enforcement office.
