Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido is warning residents about an ongoing scam in which criminals impersonate employees of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office to trick families into paying fake jail bonds.
Lucido says scammers are contacting relatives and claiming that a loved one has been arrested and is being held in custody.
Using caller ID spoofing, the calls may appear to come from the Macomb County Sheriff's Office or the Macomb County Jail. The caller falsely claims to be a sheriff's deputy or jail employee and tells the victim that immediate payment is needed to secure the person's release.
In some cases, the scammers target families of individuals who have recently been arrested. However, in other scams, victims are told a loved one has been arrested when no arrest has occurred at all. The entire story is fabricated to create fear and pressure the victim into sending money.
Even when a person has actually been arrested, these calls may occur before the individual has been arraigned by a judge, meaning no bond has been set.
The scammers pressure victims to send money through methods that are difficult to recover, including Zelle, Cash App, wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or even cash picked up from their home by a rideshare driver.
Lucido says the sheriff’s department does not contact family members or friends to collect bond payments or fees.
Legitimate bond payments are made through the Sheriff's Office website, in person at the jail, or through a licensed bail bonding agency, and an official receipt is provided.
If you receive a call requesting bond money for a loved one, hang up immediately and contact the Macomb County Jail directly at (586) 469-5151.
Residents should remember:
Never send money in response to an unsolicited phone call claiming to be from law enforcement.
Take a moment to confirm the facts. Scammers rely on fear and urgency to pressure victims into acting before they have time to think.
Lucido says scammers are contacting relatives and claiming that a loved one has been arrested and is being held in custody.
Using caller ID spoofing, the calls may appear to come from the Macomb County Sheriff's Office or the Macomb County Jail. The caller falsely claims to be a sheriff's deputy or jail employee and tells the victim that immediate payment is needed to secure the person's release.
In some cases, the scammers target families of individuals who have recently been arrested. However, in other scams, victims are told a loved one has been arrested when no arrest has occurred at all. The entire story is fabricated to create fear and pressure the victim into sending money.
Even when a person has actually been arrested, these calls may occur before the individual has been arraigned by a judge, meaning no bond has been set.
The scammers pressure victims to send money through methods that are difficult to recover, including Zelle, Cash App, wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or even cash picked up from their home by a rideshare driver.
Lucido says the sheriff’s department does not contact family members or friends to collect bond payments or fees.
Legitimate bond payments are made through the Sheriff's Office website, in person at the jail, or through a licensed bail bonding agency, and an official receipt is provided.
If you receive a call requesting bond money for a loved one, hang up immediately and contact the Macomb County Jail directly at (586) 469-5151.
Residents should remember:
Never send money in response to an unsolicited phone call claiming to be from law enforcement.
Take a moment to confirm the facts. Scammers rely on fear and urgency to pressure victims into acting before they have time to think.
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