Cass County Sheriff’s Office warns of scam directed at family members of people in jail

FARGO (KFGO) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is warning of a phone scam that has resurfaced.

Scammers are contacting family members of people who are in jail. The caller claims to be a deputy and, at times, will use a spoofed number that appears to come from a sheriff’s department phone line. The person claims that a nominal payment is required for “pre-trial release services” and pressures family members to provide the money. The caller may be using publicly available search platforms to identify jail inmates.

The sheriff’s office offers alternative corrections, including ankle bracelet monitoring and 24/7 monitoring programs.

However, payments for the programs are only accepted in cash or by money order and must be made in person at the jail.