A Wisconsin sheriff’s office is warning families of jail inmates about scam calls that may be using public jail-roster information to sound more believable.
The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office said it has received reports of scammers targeting family members of inmates, according to WXOW and sheriff’s office social media posts.
Investigators believe the callers may be using information from the publicly available jail roster to identify inmates and contact their relatives.
The sheriff’s office and jail staff will not call families and demand payment over the phone to release an inmate or move someone into GPS monitoring or a treatment program.
The Scam Starts With Real Jail Information
The danger is that the first part of the call may sound real. A scammer who has seen an inmate’s name on a public roster can use that information to make the family believe the call is connected to the jail.
Once the caller has that trust, the pitch shifts to money. The scammer may claim a payment is needed to secure release, cover GPS monitoring, place the inmate into a program, or avoid a warrant.
Families Are Already Under Pressure
These calls tend to work for scammers because relatives of inmates may already be stressed, confused, or trying to understand the release process. A caller who claims there is a quick way to help can create urgency before the family has time to verify anything.
That is why the sheriff’s office is telling people not to send money based on a phone call. A real jail process will not be handled through a surprise demand from someone calling a family member and asking for immediate payment.
The warning also applies if the caller uses a real inmate’s name, a correct jail detail, or official-sounding language. Public information can make a scam sound legitimate, but it does not prove the caller works for the county.
The Sheriff’s Office Says To Verify First
At first, its best to hang up and contact the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office or jail directly through an official phone number. Families should not call back a number provided by the person who contacted them, and they should not rely only on caller ID.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call should write down the caller’s name, claimed agency, phone number, payment request, and any instructions they gave. Screenshots, voicemail recordings, text messages, payment-app handles, and call logs can help investigators track the scam.
The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who receives this type of call to report it. Reports are especially useful if the caller mentioned a specific inmate, GPS monitoring, treatment placement, bond, release paperwork, or a threatened warrant.
No Legitimate Release Demand Comes That Way
The sheriff’s office said jail staff will never call and demand payment over the phone to release an inmate, place someone into GPS monitoring, or move someone into a treatment program.
That is the clearest warning for families: a real inmate-release process should be verified through the jail, court, clerk’s office, or an attorney using official contact information. A caller who demands immediate payment by phone, payment app, gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency should be treated as suspicious.
Families should also warn older relatives, partners, and close friends of someone in jail, because scammers may not call the person most familiar with the legal system. If money has already been sent, the family should contact the payment provider immediately and file a report with local law enforcement.