SCAM ALERT

There appears to be a resurgence of telephone scams that involve persons being called on the phone and advised either a relative of theirs, usually a grandson or granddaughter, is in jail and needs to be bonded out or calls are being received by individuals claiming to have kidnapped one of your relatives and are demanding ransom money.

The relative needing to be bonded out of jail scam has been around for a few years. It usually targets the elderly and tells them their grandson or granddaughter is in trouble and in jail and needs money to bond out. The person calling identifies themselves as bail bondsman. The caller tries to get to you wire them money usually through western union.

We are seeing a resurgence of these types of calls.

Also, we are getting reports of a Spanish speaking person being called and advised that one of their relatives has been kidnapped and the caller demands a ransom. Investigations have revealed that many of these callers are actually Puerto Rican jail inmates using prepaid cell phone cards that have been smuggled into jail. Prepaid cell phone cards cannot be traced. (There have been English speaking victims also).

Please be aware of these type of calls and never give any information out about any of your relatives and don’t send money without verifying the legitimacy of any call.

Telephone scams of all types are on the rise as well as internet email scams, etc. Bottom line, don’t give out personal information at all over the phone or internet, never send or give money to anyone without checking their story out and don’t click on suspicious emails links, etc.

If in doubt, call the police.

Thank you.

NMB Office of Facility Safety and Security