Bibb County Sheriff Warns Families of Incarcerated Individuals to Beware of Phone Extortion Scams
MACON, Ga. — The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has issued a public safety alert warning residents of an ongoing phone scam in which imposter deputies target family members of incarcerated individuals to extort money, law enforcement officials announced.
According to authorities, scammers are placing telephone calls pretending to be law enforcement officers, jail personnel, attorneys, or bondsmen. The perpetrators claim that a family member is in custody and demand immediate electronic payment or bail money under the threat of arrest or continued detention.
Official Procedures for Warrants and Posting Bond
Sheriff’s office officials clarified that law enforcement personnel will never place phone calls demanding immediate funds, gift cards, or wire transfers to resolve outstanding arrest warrants or negotiate jail releases.
Under official Bibb County protocols:
- Arrest Warrant Execution: Active arrest warrants are executed in person by uniformed deputies. Suspects are taken into custody and transported directly to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center for processing. No fees exist to cancel or satisfy an arrest warrant over the phone.
- Bail and Booking: Once an individual completes the formal booking process at the jail, staff determine whether the charged offense is bondable. If eligible, bond payments must be made in person at the facility or through a licensed, authorized bonding company.
- Direct Payments Prohibited: The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office does not accept direct digital money transfers, mobile payment apps, or gift cards for the release of incarcerated individuals.
Common Warning Signs of Imposter Scams
Sheriff’s investigators identified several tactics routinely deployed by phone scammers and inmates operating unauthorized schemes:
- Urgent Demands for Payment: Urging victims to act quickly and stay on the line while completing transactions.
- Unconventional Payment Methods: Demanding payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, Cash App, Zelle, or prepaid debit cards.
- Spoofed Caller ID: Utilizing digital spoofing software to display official law enforcement telephone numbers on the victim’s caller ID display.
- Requests for Sensitive Personal Data: Asking for Social Security numbers, dates of birth, online banking credentials, PINs, or account passwords.
- Isolation Tactics: Discouraging victims from hanging up, speaking to family members, or calling the jail directly to verify the emergency.
Recommended Steps for the Public
The sheriff’s office advises anyone receiving a suspicious call claiming to represent law enforcement to hang up immediately without providing personal information or sending funds.
Residents should independently verify any claims by looking up official contact numbers for the jail, courthouse, or sheriff’s office rather than relying on caller ID or numbers provided by the caller. Suspected scam phone numbers and suspect names can be reported directly online via the “Contact Us” section at bibbsheriff.us.
Anyone with information regarding individuals impersonating law enforcement officers is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 751-7500 or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
