Scammers are using real arrest records to trick families into handing over money for fake bail and bond fees, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office warned Monday, Sept. 21.
The scheme works because arrest information is publicly available. Fraudsters pull names and details of people recently booked into jail, then call their relatives with accurate information about the arrest, according to Fox 26 Houston, which reported the warning. The alert applies to families across Fort Bend County, including Missouri City and Stafford, where relatives of anyone booked into the county jail could be targeted.
The caller typically claims money must be sent right away for bail or bond services. In some cases, the sheriff's office said, victims are also told to pay an upfront fee for an ankle monitor or other service, raising the total amount demanded.
Knowing real details about an arrest does not make a caller legitimate. The sheriff's office cautioned that names, phone numbers, caller ID information and accurate arrest specifics should not be treated as proof the person requesting money is who they claim to be.
The warning follows a separate alert the sheriff's office issued Sept. 10 about jury-duty and bail bond phone scams. In that round, KHOU reported, one woman lost $50,000 after a caller impersonated a sheriff's office captain and directed her to deposit money at a Bitcoin ATM. Callers in those cases pressured victims to pay through Zelle, Cash App, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
"These scammers are deliberately creating fear and a sense of urgency to keep people from stopping to question what they're being told," Sheriff Eric Fagan said in the Sept. 10 warning.
The sheriff's office has not said how many people have been targeted by the arrest-information version of the scam or whether anyone in Fort Bend County has lost money.
How to protect yourself
The sheriff's office recommends these steps:
- Verify any arrest, bond amount or fee by calling the jail, court or bail bond company directly. Look up the number yourself instead of using one the caller provides.
- Question any unexpected fee, especially an upfront charge for an ankle monitor.
- Do not let urgency or worry about a loved one pressure you into sending money before confirming who you are dealing with.
As the sheriff's office said in its Sept. 10 warning, it will never call or email demanding payment to resolve a warrant, legal matter or to avoid arrest. Only a judge can impose a fine.
Residents who believe they have been targeted can report phone scams through the Texas Attorney General's consumer protection page.
