Columbia County Sheriff’s Office warns families of jail scam targeting loved ones of inmates

Published: August 17, 2026 at 11:57 AM

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is warning the community about a fraud scheme targeting family members of people who have recently been arrested. Deputies say scammers are calling victims shortly after a loved one is legitimately taken into custody — and using that timing to make their demands sound credible.

In a recent case, a family member received a call from someone claiming to be a “lieutenant” with a law enforcement agency. The caller instructed them to pay money to enroll their arrested relative in a program called “Second Chance Community Supervision” — promising it would secure the person’s release from jail and provide an ankle monitor. The victim withdrew cash and paid at a local gas station using a barcode sent to them by text.

Know the warning signs

The Sheriff’s Office says several red flags can help people identify these calls as scams:

The caller claims to represent a law enforcement agency and demands payment for a “crime,” “fine” or “failure to appear.”
The caller instructs you to withdraw cash and visit a convenience store or gas station to pay for a program, ankle monitor or bond.
The caller asks you to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM or send cryptocurrency.
The caller asks you to pay using gift cards, such as Google Play, Apple or Visa gift cards.
The caller requests personal information — such as a Social Security number, bank account number or debit/credit card number — to “confirm your identity.”

What to do if you get a call like this

Officials stress that caller ID can be “spoofed” to display the Sheriff’s Office’s real phone number, meaning a familiar number on your screen does not confirm a call is legitimate. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and independently dial the agency’s official published phone number — never a number provided by the caller.

The Sheriff’s Office also notes that scammers are increasingly targeting elderly residents, and encourages community members to check in with older family members and neighbors to make sure they are aware of this scheme.

Legitimate fines are always paid directly to a government agency — either in person at the Columbia County Detention Facility or through the official online payment portal on the Sheriff’s Office website. All transactions related to someone in custody will be handled directly through a bail bonds agency you contact yourself, or at the Detention Facility. Payments will never be processed through a convenience store bill payment portal, via cryptocurrency or through texted links.