Scammers are everywhere. They target the elderly, young adults, and anyone caught off guard. Some scams are easy to recognize—think Nigerian princes or “wrong number” text messages—but others are far more convincing. With today’s technology, you might even hear what sounds like a loved one’s voice asking for money.
Unfortunately, even the criminal justice system isn’t immune from scams. Below are several scams you may not have heard of, along with tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.
“Bail Me Out!”
This scam often begins with a familiar voice. It might sound like your daughter saying, “Mom, I’ve been arrested and need you to send my bail through Venmo.”
In reality, scammers use artificial intelligence to mimic a loved one’s voice and gain your trust. Once they have you convinced, they create urgency and demand immediate payment. The scam works because most people don’t know how bail actually works—and bail is not paid through Venmo, PayPal, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
How to avoid this scam:
- Have a code word or phrase you set up with loved ones beforehand so you can double-check who is on the phone.
- Ask what jail they are in and contact the jail directly or a bail bondsman to pay bail; don’t use their link.
- Hang up and call your loved one directly on their known phone number.
This scam may involve bail, ankle monitors, or other “urgent” legal expenses, but the message is always the same: pay now or your loved one stays in jail.
“Pay Me or You’ll Be Arrested”
In this scam, someone pretending to be law enforcement—or claiming they’re about to contact law enforcement—demands money to prevent an arrest or criminal charge.
These scams often happen after someone was chatting online with somebody they do not know in real life. After a certain point, the other person — the scammer — says they are under age and laws have been broken. At this point, they either ask for money.
Important things to remember:
- Law enforcement does not ask for money
- It is a crime to ask for money to not report a crime — it’s called blackmail
- Simply chatting with someone you later learn is a minor is not a crime. It only becomes criminal if the conversation continues and involves explicit or sexual topics.
These scams often rely on fear. The scammer may know personal details about you—where you live, where you work, or what you drive—to make the threat seem real. Whether the call comes from out of state or someone who sounds local, don’t fall for it.
Intimate Pictures
This scam is straightforward but devastating. The scammer convinces someone to share intimate photos and then threatens to send those images to friends, family, or coworkers unless money is paid.
Here’s the most important thing to know: there is never enough money to make them stop. Once you pay, they will keep demanding more.
The best course of action is to report the scam to law enforcement immediately.
To discourage victims from going to the police, scammers may falsely claim they are minors and accuse you of committing a crime by sending the images. If this happens, you can consult an attorney before contacting law enforcement to understand your rights and next steps.
Bottom Line
All scams rely on the same tactics: trust and fear. If someone is using threats of arrest, criminal charges, or jail time to demand money, it’s almost certainly a scam.
In the real legal system, legitimate payments are rarely urgent and never handled through peer-to-peer apps. When in doubt, pause, verify, seek legal advice, and contact law enforcement when necessary.
If someone is asking for money right now to keep you or a loved one out of jail, you’re probably being scammed.
