Estimated Reading Time: 3–4 minutes
Table of Contents
- How the Scam Works
- Red Flags That Should Make You Hang Up
- What Real Help for a Jailed Family Member Looks Like
- If You Have Already Been Targeted
- Get Real Legal Help from Our Firm
When a family member is arrested, you’ll be thinking about how to get them out of jail. Understandably, you probably won’t be thinking about scammers.
A phone scam targeting families of recently arrested people is circulating across the country, and it has come to the attention of our attorneys at The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller through firsthand accounts from people who were victimized by it. This scam has been documented by law enforcement agencies and consumer protection authorities at both the state and federal level, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Trade Commission. If you or someone you know has a family member in custody, we want to tell you more about this scam in hopes that it could save you from losing money to someone who has no ability or intention to help.
How the Scam Works
The scam typically arrives as an unsolicited phone call. The caller claims to represent a government agency, law enforcement, a bail bond company, or some other official-sounding entity. From there, it usually takes one of two forms or both at once.
In the first variant, the caller tells you that your family member can be released from custody in exchange for a lump sum payment, often around $1,000 to start the process. The caller creates urgency, insisting the offer is time-sensitive and that your family member will remain in custody unless you act immediately.
In the second variant, the caller tells you that your family member qualifies for a special therapy program or treatment program that will make them eligible for early release, but that there is a fee required upfront to enroll them. Like the first variant, payment is demanded quickly, through methods that are difficult to trace or recover.
In some cases, both pitches are made in the same call. The caller may appear to have accurate information about your family member, such as their name, where they are being held, or the nature of the charge. Jail booking records are often publicly accessible, which makes it simple for a scammer to sound credible. Once you send the money, though, the caller disappears, and your loved one remains jailed.
Red Flags That Should Make You Hang Up
Regardless of how the call is framed, watch for these warning signs:
- The call is unsolicited, meaning that no attorney or official you already know initiated it.
- The caller demands payment before any paperwork, contract, or court process takes place.
- Payment is requested through cash, wire transfer, gift cards, or payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App.
- The caller pressures you to act immediately and discourages you from calling the jail, court, or an attorney to verify the situation.
- The caller promises immediate or guaranteed release, which is something no legitimate party can do.
- The caller becomes evasive, hostile, or hangs up when you ask specific questions about credentials, case numbers, or exact jail locations.
Keep in mind: No court, no jail, and no legitimate attorney will demand an upfront cash payment over the phone to arrange a release.
What Real Help for a Jailed Family Member Looks Like
Jail release for someone who has been arrested happens through a formal legal process called a bond hearing, in which a judge determines whether the defendant can be released and under what conditions. No private caller can bypass that process, manufacture a shortcut, or arrange a release outside of it.
A licensed criminal defense attorney can petition the court to schedule a bond hearing, appear on your family member's behalf, and argue for their release. That process happens in a courtroom, through proper legal channels, with documentation every step of the way. It does not begin with a phone call demanding cash before anything is filed.
If You Have Already Been Targeted
If you received one of these calls or have already sent money, report it. The FTC accepts reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP. You should also report the incident to your local law enforcement agency. Acting quickly gives investigators the best chance of tracing the payment and documenting the scam.
Get Real Legal Help from Our Firm
If your family member has been arrested in Virginia and you need answers about how to help them, come to The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller right away. Our criminal defense attorneys handle bond hearings regularly and know what it takes to arrange release through the proper legal process. We are available 24/7 because we know that you want to get your loved one out from behind bars as soon as possible.
If your family member is in custody in Virginia and you need legal help, call The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller at (757) 267-4949 or contact us online to speak with our team right away.
