Nationwide Warnings Over Phone Bail Payment Scams

Authorities across the United States are warning the public about a surge in phone scams involving impostors posing as law enforcement officers, bail bondsmen, and government officials. Scammers are using tactics such as spoofed local numbers, real officer names, and threats of arrest over supposed missed jury duty or warrants. Victims are pressured to pay fines or bail via untraceable methods, including Cash App, Bitcoin, cryptocurrency kiosks, and mobile payment apps, with some scams targeting families of inmates for fraudulent early release payments. Law enforcement and regulatory agencies stress that they never request payments or sensitive information over the phone, nor do they accept fines or bail through cryptocurrencies or mobile apps. Residents are advised to independently verify any claims, avoid sending money, and report suspicious contacts to authorities. These coordinated warnings now cover multiple states, including Florida, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, reflecting the scams' widespread and evolving nature.