The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is warning local residents of a sophisticated and ongoing scam in which fraudsters prey on the families of recently arrested individuals by abusing publicly available jail records.

According to the sheriff’s public safety blog, scammers obtain the names of incarcerated individuals from the county’s online jail roster. They then identify and contact the inmate’s family members, posing as deputy sheriffs and falsely claiming they offer an electronic home monitoring program—if, and only if, payment is made immediately via a provided link. This method relies heavily on urgency to pressure families into quick, unconsidered payments. The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes: “We will never, never, never call you over the phone or text asking for money.” 

This warning aligns with similar alerts issued across Washington in recent months. In Kitsap County, authorities reported that scammers found information in jail rosters and told families their loved ones were eligible for electronic home monitoring if funds were transferred promptly. 

In Snohomish County, scammers again used the jail registry to target families, sending Zelle links and pressing for immediate bail payments over the phone. In both cases, sheriff’s offices stressed that no legitimate law enforcement personnel would ever initiate such contact to collect money for bail or monitoring services. 

Why this matters
These types of scams capitalize on fear and vulnerability at a time when families are already stressed by an arrest. By exploiting official-sounding language, inmate names, and urgency, scammers are able to appear convincing and often extract substantial sums. The Sheriff’s Office reports that these calls have already cost local residents thousands of dollars.

What to do if you’re contacted
– Hang up immediately if contacted about bail, ankle monitors, or home monitoring by phone or text
– Never click unknown links or send payments in response to unsolicited calls
– Verify any claim by contacting the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office directly using a number from its official website
– Call 911 if you suspect imminent danger or ongoing crime

Local residents are urged to share these warnings widely, especially among individuals with family members currently in custody. The sheriff’s office reiterates: No real law enforcement agency will ever call to demand payment for release.

Related reports show that similar scams in Kitsap and Snohomish counties all follow the same disturbing pattern, underscoring how widespread and adaptive such fraud schemes have become.

Community vigilance and skepticism are the strongest defenses. In moments of fear, it helps to pause and verify—even when the caller seems credible.

Sources
Pierce County Sheriff’s Office blog: Pierce County Sheriff’s Office warns of jail bail bond scam
KIRO 7 News: Scammers use Kitsap County Jail rosters to target inmates’ families
Country Herald: Snohomish Sheriff warns of Zelle fraud using jail registry