Scammers pose as Monterey County jail staff to seek payments from inmates’ families

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.