Two Nebraska victims sent money to scammers who claimed their relatives needed ankle monitors either to remain out of jail or secure their release.
The two scams happened in Lincoln on August 2 and August 5, according to KLKN. In both cases, the callers used a real arrest or incarceration to make the demand sound believable.
One victim paid $200 by credit card. The other sent $1,962 through three money orders after being told a jailed family member could be released for $2,000. Together, the victims lost $2,162.
Neither payment bought an ankle monitor or changed anyone’s custody status. Both victims discovered the scam when they went to the Lancaster County jail expecting to pick up the devices.
One Caller Threatened a New Warrant
The second scammer called a family member of a person currently in jail. They said if the family member paid $2,000 for an ankle monitor the individual would be released. The victim paid sent $1,962 with money orders. https://t.co/pXPzNYvkhB
— Channel 8 KLKN-TV (@Channel8ABC) August 7, 2026
In the first case, a scammer contacted the family member of someone who had recently been released from jail. The caller claimed the person should not have been released and that the release had occurred by mistake.
The family member was told that $485 had to be paid for an ankle monitor or a warrant would be issued for the recently released person. The victim ultimately provided $200 through a credit card..
The Second Victim Was Promised a Release
Three days later, another caller targeted the family of someone who was still incarcerated. This time, the scammer said the family needed to pay $2,000 for an ankle monitor before the person could be released.
The victim sent three money orders totaling $1,962. The family member then went to the jail expecting to pick up the ankle monitor and discovered that the payment demand had not come from corrections officials. Police have not publicly said how the scammers learned about either family’s recent arrest or incarceration.
Lancaster County Says It Does Not Collect These Payments by Phone
Lancaster County corrections officials say they do not request credit or debit card information through telephone calls, emails or text messages. Legitimate corrections payments are handled at the jail or through the county’s authorized payment system.
Anyone receiving an unexpected demand involving an ankle monitor, bond or jail release should independently contact Lancaster County Corrections at 402-441-1900 before sending money.
Act Quickly After Paying a Jail Impersonation Scam
Families should independently verify custody status, release conditions and electronic-monitoring requirements with the jail, court or attorney involved in the case. Lincoln police have warned that law enforcement and corrections officials will not call families demanding payment for an ankle monitor.
Anyone who already paid by credit card should contact the card issuer immediately, report the transaction as fraudulent and ask whether it can be reversed. The Federal Trade Commission advises people who paid scammers with money orders to contact the issuing company immediately and ask whether payment can be stopped. If the money orders were mailed, victims should also try to stop delivery as quickly as possible.
Lincoln residents can report suspected scams to police at 402-441-6000. Payment receipts, caller information, messages and any instructions provided by the scammer should be preserved for investigators.