Authorities are warning about a scam targeting relatives of inmates at the Monterey County Jail, saying callers posing as sheriff’s employees are demanding payments for fake early-release programs.
In a statement, Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said family members of prisoners at the county jail had been receiving calls from people claiming to work for the Sheriff’s Office.
The callers tell relatives that inmates can qualify for release because of alleged jail overcrowding. The scammers offer supposed release options that include a $1,200 bail payment with an ankle bracelet and weekly $200 payments, or a flat $1,800 payment for release with a watch monitoring device.
“The Monterey County Jail does not have an early release program, and we will never request payment of any type to be made at local retail stores for any reason.”
Sheriff Tina Nieto
The Sheriff said the callers also claim the jail payment kiosk is out of service and instruct victims to make payments at local pharmacies or retail stores.
“The Monterey County Jail does not have an early release program, and we will never request payment of any type to be made at local retail stores for any reason,” Nieto said.
Scammers may be using the county’s public jail log to identify inmates and target their relatives.
“It is important that we alert families of those who have loved ones in our jail so that they do not fall victim to this new scam,” Nieto said.
The law enforcement agency has not received reports of anyone losing money so far, but they believe multiple scam attempts have been made.
The Sheriff’s Office urges anyone uncertain about a call’s legitimacy to hang up and contact the Monterey County Jail directly at (831) 755-3700.