Alachua County Court Services urges residents to beware of bond scam

Press release from Alachua County

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Court Services is warning residents about a phone scam targeting community members and family members of incarcerated individuals.

In the scam, a caller claims to be a government official who can arrange an incarcerated individual’s release from custody in exchange for a fee, sometimes before the individual’s first appearance hearing.

Residents should remember:

• The Alachua County Jail will never call family members to request that a bond be posted over the phone or online.
  
• Never send money or post a bond through a website at the direction of an unsolicited caller.
  
• If you need to post a bond, contact a trusted, licensed bail bondsman or call the Alachua County Jail at 352-491-4444 for guidance on the proper bond process.
  
• If you receive a suspicious call regarding a loved one being in custody, do not provide personal, financial, or banking information.
  
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and verify the information by contacting the Alachua County Jail.

Residents who believe they have been the victim of a scam should report it to the appropriate law enforcement agency.