Scam Alert: Scammers are posing as police and telling relatives that one payment via Cash App, Venmo or Zelle will secure an ankle-monitor release. Cumberland County authorities and the FTC say real law enforcement will not demand payment by phone. End suspicious calls, verify custody using official government contacts, and report the contact to your local nonemergency line.
Scam Alert: Callers Pretend to Be Police Asking for Cash App, Venmo or Zelle Payments to Secure Jail Release
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Scammers are contacting relatives of people in custody and falsely claiming that a single payment via Cash App, Venmo or Zelle will secure an immediate release on an ankle-monitor program. Callers and text senders typically impersonate local law enforcement and pressure families to transfer money right away to avoid the incarcerated person being returned to jail.
How the Scam Works
The scheme often begins with an urgent message about someone who was recently arrested or is already being held in jail. The caller — claiming to be an officer or deputy — says the individual qualifies for electronic monitoring but must pay an upfront “release” fee through a payment app. Targets are instructed to send money quickly through Cash App, Venmo or Zelle, sometimes under threat that the person will remain in custody if they hesitate.
What Authorities Say
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, officials and the Federal Trade Commission warn that legitimate law-enforcement agencies do not demand payment by phone for an ankle monitor, fine, or release from custody. Real authorities will not require payment through consumer payment apps or ask relatives to send money immediately over text or phone.
What To Do If You Get This Call
- End the call immediately. Do not press any numbers, call back, or reply to texts from the suspicious contact.
- Verify custody through official channels. Check the detainee’s status by contacting the jail, court, attorney, or law-enforcement agency using contact information found on an official government website — not the number the caller provides or the caller ID display.
- Do not send money through apps. Never transfer funds via Cash App, Venmo, Zelle or similar services in response to an unexpected demand for a bail, release fee or electronic-monitoring payment.
- Report the contact. Call your local police department’s nonemergency line to report suspicious calls or texts and warn other family members who might respond quickly to an urgent claim.
Tip: Scammers can spoof phone numbers to make calls appear legitimate. Always use official government websites to find contact numbers.
Local Contact Information
The Cumberland County Prison lists its main number as 717-245-8787 and its inmate-records line as 717-960-5528. Use these numbers only if you found them on the official county or prison website; do not trust caller-supplied numbers or caller ID alone.
If you receive a message like this, ask whether the person is actually in custody, whether a court has authorized release, and whether any official payment is required. When in doubt, verify with an attorney or the appropriate agency before taking any action.
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