Lucas County, OH – The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new phone scam targeting families and friends of incarcerated individuals. The alert, issued Monday, warns that scammers are posing as deputies or jail staff and demanding payments for inmate bonds, probation, or release fees.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, these claims are entirely false. Officials say the department will never call, text, or email anyone to request money for an inmate or to resolve a warrant.
A legitimate law enforcement officer will also never ask for payment of any kind. Anyone receiving such a call should immediately hang up and report the incident to the Lucas County Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 419-255-8443.
Authorities say scammers often use public jail records to identify victims, adding credibility to their schemes. Residents are urged to stay alert and warn family members to avoid falling for these fraudulent calls.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that if a person truly has a warrant or court issue, deputies will address it in person, not over the phone.
Officials are asking the public to share this warning widely to prevent further victimization.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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