The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that a scam targeting family members of people recently booked into jail is resurfacing in the area.
The office recently reshared a February scam alert, adding a reminder that it will never demand or request payment over the phone for bond, warrants, fines, or other services.
Sheriff Nate Huizenga says scammers appear to search public arrest information, then use internet searches to identify people who may be related to someone in custody. Callers pose as deputies or jailers and claim money is needed to secure a family member’s release.
“We’re never going to call a family member and say, hey, you need to send us some money to get your loved one out of jail,” Huizenga said.
False Release Claims and Repeat Payments
The original alert described callers claiming inmates could be released because of jail capacity, then requesting immediate payment for an ankle monitor.
Huizenga says scammers create a sense of urgency, pressuring relatives to act quickly so their family member can leave jail. They have requested payments through services such as Chime and Venmo, along with cryptocurrency and wire transfers. He says the sheriff’s office will not accept payments through those methods.
Some scammers also attempt to collect additional money after someone has already paid.
“If they know there’s a payment made, they’ll say it didn’t go through and they’ll ask for a second payment,” Huizenga said.
The February alert warned that calls can come from private or spoofed numbers. Huizenga says knowing an officer’s name does not make a caller legitimate, either. Names of local law enforcement officers can be found online or through public information.
Hang Up and Contact the Office Directly
Anyone receiving a suspicious call should hang up without providing personal or financial information or sending money.
Residents concerned about a family member should independently contact the sheriff’s office or Sioux County Jail using the official phone number listed on the office’s website. Staff can verify the person’s custody status and review what the caller said.
Huizenga says pressure to make an immediate decision is a warning sign that applies beyond this particular scam.
“Most of the time they’re going to put urgency as down as this has to happen quickly or something bad may happen,” Huizenga said. “If that’s how they’re coming across on the phone, it’s more than likely just trying to pressure you into making a quick decision, which is what they want.”
He recommends the same approach for suspicious calls claiming to come from a bank, credit card company, or another business: hang up and independently contact the organization to check the request.
Huizenga says the sheriff’s office is actively investigating and following up on phone numbers and other information about the callers. He says other sheriff’s offices in the area are also receiving reports of similar scams.
Residents who receive these calls are encouraged to share available details with the office, including the caller’s phone number and what was requested.
