May 29, 2019 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents of a scam that is circulating in our area. This scam is referred to as the “Grandparent Scam.”
The caller claims to be a relative (usually a granddaughter or grandson) and claims that they are in jail. The caller request that they contact a person at a certain number or tells them that a bondsman will be contacting them in a few minutes and ask for help in getting out of jail. The victim will then either receive a phone call or told to call a number given to them and speak to a person claiming to be a bondsman. This “bondsman” is a fake and will usually ask for a credit card number, or a pre-paid credit card such as a Green-DOT card, etc.,
Do Not Give The Caller Any Information. This is a scam. Find out what jail the family member is supposedly being held and call to verify whether they are there or not. Always meet a bondsman at their office or at the jail where you are bonding the person out.
Leah Chase
Media Relations
