The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office in Urbana, Illinois, has issued a warning about a scam that specifically targets the families of incarcerated individuals.
According to a recent post on Facebook, the Sheriff’s Office explained that fraudsters are impersonating the Illinois Office of Statewide Pretrial Services. These scammers falsely state that payment is needed for GPS monitoring devices or supervision to facilitate the release of a detained family member.
“This is a complete scam,” officials emphasized. “Pretrial Services will never demand payment for GPS devices or supervision. No legitimate agency will request money over the phone to arrange someone’s release.”